The Lagos State Government said that it has developed a strategy for sustainable dredging and mining practices in Lagos State.
The Special Adviser to Mr. Governor, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (Office of Mineral Resources) Engr. Abiola Olowu disclosed this recently during the round-off of the monitoring exercise to all dredging and mining sites across the five divisions of the state.
He stated that in line with the THEMES Plus agenda of the Sanwo-Olu-led-administration, especially the ‘Making Lagos State 21st Century Economy’ pillar, the Ministry designed the strategy from the various observations noted during the visit to the various dredging and mining sites.
The Special Adviser revealed that the various mining and dredging sites have been categorised based on factors such as environmental impact, operational scale and community concerns. Olowu promised that the Ministry would ensure that all necessary permits and permissions are obtained with the required documentation, compliance with environmental regulations, operational practices and safety measures on environmental and ecosystem impacts.
He also noted that the Ministry will henceforth invest in raising public awareness about Dredging and Mining activities in addition to hosting workshops to educate stakeholders on environmental conservation and sustainable practices.
With the Special Adviser on site were Mr. Cardozo Emilio (Director Solid Mineral Department), Mrs. Williams Oluremi, (Director Dredging Department) and staff of the Solid Mineral Department and Dredging Unit.