The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate Dangote Refinery and Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprises Limited over their dredging activities in the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State.
The lawmaker representing Ibeju Lekki Federal Constituency, Mr. Adebayo Balogun, who moved the motion for the probe at the plenary on Monday, alleged that the dredging activities were causing environmental threats to lives and property in the area.
Balogun’s motion was titled ‘Need to Investigate the Dredging Activities of Dangote Refinery and Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprises Limited on the Coastal Fishing Communities of Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State’.
The lawmaker described Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area as the fastest growing economic hub in Nigeria due largely to the establishment of the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lekki Deep Sea Port and the siting of Dangote Refinery and Dangote Greenfield Port and Quays.
He said, “The House is aware that Dangote Group and Lekki Port LFTZ have engaged in unprecedented dredging of the sea, causing unquantifiable erosion of the seashore, leading to destruction of building and fishing equipment and making fishing almost impossible.
“This wanton dredging of the ocean has distorted the coastal ecosystem leading to massive loss of land, destruction of access roads and trees of economic value.
“Communities like Tiye, Idotun, Idasho, Okunraye, Lekki, Oshoroko and environs are seriously under threat of extinction if nothing is urgently done.”
Adopting the motion, the House mandated the House Committee on Environment to visit the communities urgently for a first-hand assessment of the situation and report back to the House within four weeks. Udeogu further appealed to the Supreme Court, which ordered a retrial by a judge of the Federal High Court.
https://punchng.com/to-probe-dredging-in-lagos-community/
