For various environmental abuses in the host waterfront communities, the Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, has issued a stop-work order to no fewer than 10 sand dredging companies along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
The stop-work order was issued at the weekend by the Monitoring and Enforcement Team of the ministry, headed by the Director of Mineral Resources and Solid Minerals, Mr. Emillo Cardoso, a geologist, to some of the dredging operators in Ilaje, Ajah and Awoyaya areas.
According to Cardoso, the issuance of the stop-work notices to the companies was hinged on several petitions received by the ministry in regards to the illegal dredging activities causing environmental nuisances and degradation in these communities.
It was gathered that Cardoso led the enforcement team following the directive of the Commissioner, Mr.Olalere Odusote,an engineer.
He explained that the stop-work order has become necessary in order to curb the illegal activities of the dregers and protect the environment from further pollution and degradation.
Justifying the action of the ministry, the geologist said it is the responsibility of the government to protect its people.
For this reason, he said the present administration led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been doing everything within its jurisdiction to ensure that dredging activities are done lawfully so that roads, public infrastructure and the wetlands would be preserved.
Following the stop-work order issued, Cardoso advised interested persons willing to continue dredging activities to follow the due process involved by obtaining necessary permits from the Federal Government through the National Inland Water Authority and ensure that their dredging activities are carried out according to stipulated laws without constituting any threat to the environment.
He also disclosed that the collation of the data of authentic and registered dredgers across the state is presently on-going, stressing that the process, when completed would make it easier to identify illegal sand dredgers from legal operators.
“We are collating all necessary data as I speak, to first of all know the amount of dredging companies we have. After that, we can now separate the illegal ones from the legal companies. Infact some of these operators we are talking of don’t even have licences from the Federal Government,” Cardoso said.
He lamented how the activities of the dredging companies had been affecting every member of their host communities including the children and adults, who he said have found it difficult to leave their houses for work or schools.
According to him, as landlords have been complaining that tenants are beginning to leave their flats for other places due to environmental nuisance being created by the activities of the sand dredgers.
Cardoso explained to newsmen that the issuance of permit/ licensing for dredging was being done by the federal authority, but pointed out that the state government has the responsibility to ensure that activities of the dredging companies do not bring discomfort to the citizenry, property and environment.
“We have not come here to harass anyone. For now, we have realized the need to convey a stakeholders’ meeting where we will further engage the operators on the appropriate way to carry out their businesses. But for now, all dredging activities will stop until the needful is done,” he said.
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