LASG kicks as cargo vessel destroys N7bn beach barricade

The Lagos State Government has kicked over the destruction of N7bn worth of groins along the Lagos coastline at the Mayegun Waterfront Scheme near Eko Atlantic City.

Groins, made of rocks or concrete, are used to prevent or reduce beach erosion.

They are built perpendicular to the shoreline to trap sand carried along the coast by waves and currents, helping to maintain the beach and creating a more stable environment for piers or harbours.

It was gathered that the cargo vessel destroyed the groins on the night of July 29, 2024, after the vessel offloaded petroleum products at the Apapa port.

While reacting in a Sunday statement, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Yacoob Alebiosu, said it was a sad occurrence, considering the amount of money spent by the state to construct the groins.

Alebiosu said the state had been battling to preserve and protect coastline communities from extinction by using groins.

He said, “While the state is working on this, we won’t allow our existing infrastructure along the waterfront corridor to be damaged, potentially due to negligence.”

He noted that the ministry would summon the company, adding that further investigations were ongoing to uncover the real cause of the accident.

According to the statement, the Technical Superintendent attached to the vessel, Fidelis Ilok, disclosed to newsmen that the accident happened while the crew was asleep.

“The ship was anchored to the seabed. The 12-man crew was sleeping when the anchor broke, and the massive wave began to push the vessel up and down.

It was total confusion until the groins at the shore stopped the vessel. The incident occurred after we had offloaded the petroleum products and anchored,” Ilok explained.

However, reacting further, the commissioner said, “Protecting our coastal areas has been very challenging for us in Lagos. We have invested billions in constructing these groins. Some of our communities are already ravaged by coastal erosion. The groin destroyed by the company in Mayegun cost us N7bn.

“Okunde, Idotun, Origanrigan, Olomowewe, Itoke, Asoroko, Igbekodo, and Akodo Ise are communities still pleading for our attention. They need groins to save their communities. As of last year, constructing a kilometre cost N12bn. Are we now to fold our arms and allow the already constructed groins to be destroyed?” He questioned.