Posts

In order to address challenges of siltation, flooding, as well as solid wastes along the ferry channels around communities in the Ajegunle area of Lagos, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) recently received control of a newly constructed jetty at the Tin Can Island Port.

The jetty, a Federal Government intervention project, was executed through the Ecological Fund Office (EFO), under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, for the benefit of NIWA in Lagos State.

While commissioning the jetty, Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora said the project was approved in the fourth quarter of 2018 with the aim of addressing the menace of pollution and siltation which has been a major problem hampering water transportation in some of the ferry routes in Lagos state.

According to him, “This intervention by the Federal Government on the construction of the jetty would bring about a huge relief and assuage the fear of menace of erosion and other ecological challenges in the Tin Can area.

“NIWA identified the CMS MILE 2 route as the busiest for ferry services, but for the high pollution rate, flooding along the river banks as well as siltation along the ferry channel, these challenges negatively affected ferry services as marine litters and the shallow channels made ferry services operators to avoid these ferry routes.

“The dream however is to resuscitate, upgrade existing jetties and make the ferry route operational through the removal of silt and solid wastes along the ferry channels which of course is in line with international best practices.

“I feel honoured with this invitation as the special guest of honour not only because the project is dear to the people of Lagos state, but also because it is in keeping faith with the present administration’s promise that no part of the country will suffer any neglect owing to its geographical location or political consideration.”

Also speaking, Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu said the Iko community is the major beneficiary of the project by the Federal Government.

Earlier in his welcome address, Permanent Secretary of Ecological Fund Office (EFO), Dr. Habiba Lawal said the risk of shoreline erosion and its negative consequences necessitated the prompt intervention of the Federal Government in effecting a holistic approach to the control and flooding that would stand the test of time and address the issue of shoreline erosion menace caused by high ocean current/tidal waves over the years.