Coastal communities at risk as Lagos lagoon comes under pressure

The Lagos State government has raised alarm over mounting threats to the state’s lagoon, warning that unchecked human activity and climate pressures could devastate coastal communities, infrastructure, and livelihoods.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday in Alausa, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, commissioner for waterfront infrastructure development, said the lagoon is under “unprecedented strain” from illegal dredging, coastal erosion, and industrial pollution.

According to him, Lagos loses an estimated 10,625 cubic metres of sand daily to dredging, a practice that destroys aquatic habitats and endangers communities along the waterfront.

A bathymetric and hydrographic survey is ongoing to identify over-dredged areas, with Ibeshe already marked as heavily impacted.

Bush-Alebiosu noted that coastal erosion has already wiped out some communities, including Idotun Village in Ibeju-Lekki, underscoring the urgent need for intervention.

“Coastal erosion is a regional problem with global implications. Lagos must take urgent steps to safeguard its communities, infrastructure, and economy. That is why we are collaborating with the Netherlands to explore lasting and innovative solutions,” he said.

Beyond the risks, the commissioner stressed the lagoon’s economic potential if better managed, noting its capacity to serve as a hub for transportation, tourism, fisheries, and trade.

He also described industrial pollution as a worsening crisis, saying the lagoon is now among Africa’s most polluted water bodies, with more than 10,000 cubic metres of effluents containing heavy metals discharged daily from oil, textile, and manufacturing activities.

“The lagoon is not just a body of water; it is our heritage, our economy, and our future. Without urgent and coordinated intervention, this vital ecosystem and the communities it supports may be lost forever,” Bush-Alebiosu warned.