To further increase land availability for housing and infrastructure development, the Lagos State Government has expressed the desire to continue to create more man-made islands at its waterfront across the State.
Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Arch. Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi, disclosed this on Wednesday at the 2020 Ministerial Press Briefing at JJT Park Alausa, Ikeja, to mark the first year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
According to the Commissioner, work has begun on the reclamation of 100 hectares of the land proposed for mixed-use development named “Ostia Islands”, beside Orange Island at Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
Abdullahi added that approval was also granted for the reclamation of 54.58 hectares at Makoko for redevelopment, while the Majidun-Awori Island project would be embarked upon to bring commercial and residential real estate development to the Ikorodu corridor.
While stating that the projects would be financed through Public-Private Partnership, Abdullahi listed other upcoming projects such as King’s City Island, to be constructed on 150 hectares and located 300 metres north of Victoria Garden City; and Olumegbon Royal Land (Palaver Yard Extension) with proposed 6.6 hectares of land.
He also disclosed that the Lagos State Government had continued to work with its partners at the Orange and Gracefield Islands currently undergoing construction during the period under review.
The commissioner also the Federal Government to be actively involved in the mitigation of erosion and protection of the Lagos Coastline.
According to the Commissioner, erosion of Lagos coastline is a direct impact of the construction of the eastern and western moles by the Federal Government as far back as 1912 as a safe access for the vessels into the Lagos Harbour which has put heavy financial burden on the State with regards to the protection of its coastline.
He admonished the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to refocus its attention to its primary mandate of creating channels for boat navigation on the waterways and stop enabling illegal dredging activities.
He noted that NIWA’s activities had brought about degradation of Lagos Shoreline, road Infrastructure as well as environmental pollution.
He said “NIWA should refocus its attention to its primary mandate which is creating channels for boat navigation on the Waterways as against what they are doing now as land speculators, sand sellers and creating land for property developer.”
NAN