The Lagos State Government has warned of an imminent environmental and social crisis in the Lagos Lagoon, describing the situation as a looming collapse unless urgent steps are taken.
The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Alebiosu, issued the warning on Thursday at a press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, ahead of the state's Maiden Waterfront Summit scheduled for September 11 on Victoria Island.
The summit, themed "Pressure on the Lagoon: The Lagos Experience", is expected to bring together over 500 global experts to address the growing threats to the lagoon and propose sustainable solutions.
Alebiosu said coastal erosion has already destroyed some communities, including Idotun Village in Ibeju-Lekki, displacing residents and wiping out livelihoods.
He noted that similar devastation is also being experienced in parts of Ghana, underscoring the regional and global nature of the crisis.
"Coastal erosion is a regional problem with global implications. Lagos must take urgent steps to safeguard its communities, infrastructure, and economy. The Lagos State Government has initiated collaboration with the Netherlands, a country renowned for its expertise in coastal and water management, to find lasting and innovative solutions," he said.
On illegal dredging, the commissioner revealed that about 10,625 cubic metres of sand are dredged daily in Lagos, warning that the unchecked practice could destabilise the ecosystem, destroy aquatic life, and threaten waterfront settlements.
He added that surveys are ongoing to identify areas most affected, with Ibeshe already marked as heavily impacted.
Beyond the dangers, Alebiosu highlighted the lagoon's vast economic potential in transportation, tourism, fisheries, and trade if properly managed.
However, he lamented that the lagoon is now one of Africa's most polluted water bodies, with over 10,000 cubic metres of industrial waste dumped into it daily from oil, textile, and manufacturing companies. These effluents, he said, contain hazardous metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, and nickel.
"The lagoon is not just a body of water; it is our heritage, our economy, and our future. This summit is a call to action for Lagosians, experts, and stakeholders to work together in protecting it before it is too late," he noted.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary supervising the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, reaffirmed the government's commitment to tackling illegal dredging and adopting urgent interventions to avert environmental collapse.