The Federal Government and Lagos State Government Tuesday agreed to stop barge operations along the coastline of Marina in Lagos Island with the aim of preserving its beauty and serenity.
To this end, the Federal Government in conjunction with Lagos State Government has ordered the stoppage of all such operations, which have desecrated the once beautiful and peaceful Marina coastline.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has also been mandated to revoke barge approvals granted some companies operating in Lagos.
Inspecting the activities of the barge operators around the Marina coastline, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, directed the operators to stop forthwith.
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The duo, who went round the coastline, expressed their displeasure over the long row of trucks and containers that have constituted health and security hazards on the Marina. They said the activities of the barge operators have caused a major devastation along the coastline that used to be the pride of the state, attracting crowds of visitors.
Amaechi and Sanwo-Olu found the “unwholesome” activities on the coastline “shocking” and “unacceptable.”
The minister spoke of an urgent need to sanitise the entire Marina coastline and restore its tranquillity and beauty.
He ordered that trucks must immediately stop coming to Marina to load.
Amaechi said the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) did not grant anyone permission to carry out barging operations, insisting that all such activities must stop immediately.
“The Federal Ministry of Transport has agreed with Lagos State Government to ensure that whoever is making use of the Marina coastline should stop. We have agreed with Lagos State Commissioner of Police to stop those using the roads and we have agreed with NPA to cancel all barge permits pending when each person will come back to NPA, NIWA and Lagos State Government to renew such approval,” he said.
On his part, Sanwo-Olu directed Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, to arrest and prosecute anyone who flouts the order to stop “unauthorised activities” on the Marina.
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The governor, in a statement by Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the state givernment would do everything to bring sanity to the coastline.
“We are also talking to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing because we understand that some of the approvals were from the Federal Ministry of Works. So, we are also taking up that responsibility and we would do what we need to do,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Also at the inspection were NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman, representatives of NIWA, Ministries of Works as well as Waterfront Infrastructure Development and the Police.
Idowu Sowunmi
