Gives 7-day ultimatum to dredging, related companies to regularise operation
• To aggressively implement the law
Lagos state government yesterday said that the decision of the Appeal Court delivered on July 18, 2017, that affirmed the right of Lagos State to control it’s resources, specifically its inland waterways is a big win for federalism.
The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Lagos, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, said this during a press briefing jointly addressed by the Ministries of Waterfront Infrastructure Development and Justice.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engineer Adebowale Akinsanya, said a 7-day ultimatum is hereby issued to all dredging and related activities within and along Lagos Inland Waterways to regularise their operations with the agenchest of the state government.
Akinsanya said the order will be enforced aggressively until proper inventory of environmental degradation suffered by the environment has been taken while state policy on same is made.
Kazeem said that Lagos State Government is very pleased with the outcome of the suit that reaffirmed the Constitutional right of a state government to control it’s inland waterways.
“There have been varied attempts by those who lost out in this judgement to whittle down the effect of the judgement but we are unperturbed and believe strongly that the judgement is very clear and the constitution is also very clear on this issue.”
He said that the state government is not out to antagonise or fight anybody but we will be uncowed, we will be unbowed and we will be fiercely protective of our God given resources and will never relent in championing the cause of true fiscal federalism in Nigeria.
“If it is the wish of NIWA to challenge the right of the Lagos State Government to control it’s resources at the Supreme Court, we say we are ready. However, until this judgement is set aside it remains good law and will be fully enforced by the Lagos State Government and my office and the relevant government agencies.”
Akinsanya urged all boat and dredging operators to be law abiding and fully comply accordingly and failure to heed the directive will attract appropriate stiff sanctions.
“All registration of boats, reclamation, dredging and others should be by the Lagos State Government,” Akinsanya said.
He rolled out a list of plans by the state government to ensure the state waterways are safe, secured and economically active.
