IGR: Lagos Waterfront Ministry improves revenue performance to 270.66% in two years

By Moses Adeniyi

The performance of the Lagos State Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development has received a significant boost from 15.42% performance in 2017 and 8.9% performance in 2018 to 270.66%, Nigerian NewsDirect has gathered.

According to statistics obtained from the State’s Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development Arc. Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi, it was gathered that since the inception of the present administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2019, the Ministry “made an unprecedented increase in its revenue generation from 15.42% performance in 2017 and 8.9% performance in 2018 to 270.66%.

According to the statistics, the feat is significantly above the benchmark of 75%, just as the breakdown revealed that the estimated revenue for 2020 saw an increase of 130.7%.

The Commissioner, disclosed that although the Ministry could not meet the budgeted revenue for 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was able to achieve 63.10% revenue generation which is the second highest in the history of the Ministry.

As at the first quarter (Q1) of 2021, it was gathered that the revenue generated by the Ministry stands at 13.4% which is higher than the second highest generated revenue before the present administration.

The Commissioner while reeling off the achievements of his Ministry at Ikeja, the State Capital, during the ongoing Annual Ministerial Briefing to mark the two years of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration in Office, said the Ministry did not rest on its oars but consolidated on its past achievements “while introducing new innovations to maximize the benefits derivable to the good people of Lagos State.”

He said the Ministry has been working “in line with the Lagos State Government’s inclusive Government agenda of carrying along the citizens of the State in its development efforts tailored around the Traffic Management and Transportation pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of the State which is changing the narrative of the Transportation system in Lagos State towards the achievement and efficient integrated Multi-Modal Transportation system by opening up the water ways for viable and effective water Transportation.”

The achievements of the Ministry within the period under review include construction of reinforced concrete betty with shelter and shoreline protection; channelisaion of ferry routes; construction of precast concrete sheet pile of 600mm X 300mm X 12m for Shoreline protections; provision of Hydraulic sand fill.

Other areas of the Ministry’s achievements was on works on man made estates as well as creating new housing schemes in order to open up new areas for development and reduce the inherent housing deficit.

Efforts in this regard, include the creation of water scheme at the Eko Atlantic City which encompasses the reclamation and provision of infrastructure on 843.999 Hectares of land from the Lagos Lagoon under PPP (Public Private Partnership) arrangement, for the creation of Man-Made Island at Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Eti-Osa LGA. The Reclamation is gathered to be on-going and at 67% completion.

Other schemes where similar efforts are extended to include works at the GracefieldIsland, King City Island, Ostia Island, FBT Coral Estate, and Amuwo-Odofin Waterfront Scheme.

On the removal of wrecked ships, the Commissioner disclosed that for efforts to free waterways of wreckages and debris and also prevent erosion and degradation of the shore line, the State Government removed four numbers of abandoned wrecked ships and several debris and unwanted objects from the waterways.

Giving update on the reclamation and shoreline protection of the Badagry Marina Project (Additional Works), it was disclosed that the project which is being implemented in phases had its first phase which involves the reclamation and construction of the shoreline protection of the whole project site completed.

The second Phase II which involve the reclamation and construction of shoreline protection of the remaining part of the project site has also been completed, while the third phase which includes additional works of extension of the shoreline protection by 208M is ongoing and has achieved 90% completion

On the Lekki Foreshore estate with the estimated size of 60 Hectares, it was disclosed that the reclamation work has been completed while the shoreline protection is ongoing.

On monitoring and enforcement in the period under review, the Commissioner mentioned that the Ministry has continued the Monitoring & Enforcement of Waterfront and Wetland reclamation and development to prevent creation of slums and blighted communities with its associated social menace as well as ensure eco-friendly environment.

According to him, the Ministry also continuously engaged in effective inspection and Monitoring of various Waterfront activities such as Sand mining, dredging and extensions in order to ensure and enforce compliance with State Government Waterfront laws and regulations to achieve sustainable management and development of State Waterfront and the resources therein.

He added that two (2) touring and surveillance fiber boats have just been procured to boost the monitoring exercise.

“Surveillance visit was paid to Banana Island where illegal reclamation and extensions is ongoing. Stop Work Orders were issued to illegal companies on this axis.

“Enforcement was carried out on the defiant operators that did not comply with the stop work order earlier issued along the Banana Island foreshore Enforcement was also carried out on illegal dredging and stockpiling operations at Ibeju Lekki corridor particularly, Bogije, Sangotedo, Langasa, and Awoyaya foreshores,” he said.

He said consequent to the enforcements carried out, a total number of 30 illegal Dredging Operators were arrested and prosecuted by the Taskforce on Environmental and Special offences.

The Commissioner further disclosed that the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice is presently working on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lagos State and Dredger Association of Nigeria in order to ensure balance between economic development and ecological preservation that will permit beneficial use of the waterfronts, reduce coastal/shoreline erosion and ensure sustainable dredging/reclamation activities.

The Commissioner further noted that part of the Ministry’s mandate is the provision of navigable ferry routes in the Lagos waters for smooth sailing of bigger boats which calls for the need for channelization of all identifiable ferry routes in the State to improve water Transportation.

The channelization which involves dredging of ferry routes, creating a path of 40 metre width and 4 metre minimum of depth to accommodate bigger boat movement includes the channelization of 4km ferry route from Mile 2 to Marina which is already in use, channelization of 6.4km ferry route from Ebute (Ikorodu) – Ilaje ( falomo ) , 10.3km route from Ojo to Badagry and 4.10km Ilaje (Bariga ) to white sand in Oyingbo is almost completed.

The new routes are to complement the existing ones: Ipakodo(Ikorodu) to Addax/ five cowries in falomo, Ipakodo (Ikorodu) to CMS/ Marina and Badore (Tarzan) to Ijede, Ebutte Ojo to Liverpool to CMS / Marina.Others are Mile 2- Liverpool- CMS/ Marina, Baiyeku(Ikorodu) to Oke-Ira nla to Badore in Ajah and Ilaje to Bariga to Ebute Ero and CMS.

Arc. Ahmed Abdullahi added that with the additional new routes more people are now embracing water Transportation Business and travels which would in turn improve commercial activities in those areas, save travel times and improve the general well being of the people.

Urging Lagosians to avail themselves of the opportunities provided by the Government and make use of all the infrastructure provided by the State Government, he disclosed that 15 new reinforced concrete jetties located at various riverine areas of the State would also be commissioned for the use of the citizens of the State before the end of the year to further boost water transportation system.