Lagos tackles housing deficits with new man-made Islands — Commissioner

•Reveals Reclamation Of Eko Atlantic City Now 67 Per Cent 
• Creates Four Ferry Routes To Boost Water Transportation
• 30 Arrested, Prosecuted For Illegal Dredging

To reduce housing deficits and expand opportunities, Lagos State government has said it is creating five more man-made islands aside from the Eko Atlantic City to open up the city.
 
The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi, disclosed that the ministry has obtained approval for preparatory work to commence creation of six new waterfront schemes. The schemes are Idogun in Ibeju- Lekki Council, Lepia also in Ibeju-Lekki Council, Alayande- Sangotedo in Eti- Osa Council and Owode – Apa in Badagry Council. Others are Akodo in Ibeju-Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and Ibeshe in Ikorodu Council.
 
Abdullahi said that the state government would continued to work on its ongoing man-made estates, which include: Eko Atlantic City, Green Field Island, King City Islands, off north of Victoria Garden City (VGC), Ostia Island, FBT Coral Estate and Amuwo- Odofin Waterfront Scheme.
 

According to him, the state government was mindful of the importance of good ferry routes for safe and successful water transportation, which has necessitated continuous opening of new water routes to complement the existing ones.
 
He noted that part of the ministry’s mandate was the provision of navigable ferry routes in the Lagos waters for smooth sailing of bigger boats, hence the need for channelisation of all identifiable ferry routes in the state to improve water transportation.
 
“The channelization, which involves dredging of ferry routes, creating a path of 40 metre width and 4 metre minimum of depth to accommodate bigger boat movement, includes the channelisation of 4km ferry route from Mile 2 to Marina, which is already in use, channelisation of 6.4km ferry route from Ebute (Ikorodu) – Ilaje (falomo), 10.3km route from Ojo to Badagry and 4.10km Ilaje (Bariga) to white sand in Oyingbo is almost completed.
 
“The new routes are to complement the existing ones: Ipakodo (Ikorodu) to Addax/ five cowries in falomo, Ipakodo (Ikorodu) to CMS/ Marina and Badore (Tarzan) to Ijede, Ebutte Ojo to Liverpool to CMS /Marina. Others are Mile 2- Liverpool- CMS/ Marina, Baiyeku (Ikorodu) to Oke-Ira nla to Badore in Ajah and Ilaje to Bariga to Ebute Ero and CMS,” he said.

Abdullahi added that with the additional new routes, more people are now embracing water transportation business and travels which would in turn improve commercial activities in those areas, save travel times and improve the general well being of the people.
 
He also disclosed that the government has removed four abandoned wrecked ships and several debris and unwanted objects found on the waterways.

The commissioner stated that 15 new reinforced concrete jetties located at various riverine areas of the state would also be commissioned for the use of the citizens before the end of the year to further boost the water transportation system.
 
Also, giving account of his ministry in the last one year, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, said that the current administration has stabilised and restored confidence in the environmental sector.
 
He added that at the last count, over 30,000 direct new jobs have been created in the sector through LAWMA with several thousands of indirect jobs as well.
 

He said that the ministry has constructed a recycling bank within the Ministry of Environment complex and has also been promoting the establishment of recycling banks in the government built estates across the state.
 
Bello said as part of climate change mitigation efforts of the present administration, many new parks and gardens have been created while landscaping and beautification of new sites have continued. 
 
He added that LASPARK is also partnering the private sector with its adopt a Park Policy through which the OPS are encouraged to adopt and brand sites, parks and gardens.