The Lagos State Government has given a serious warning about the worsening condition of the Lagos Lagoon. They say it could soon lead to major environmental and social problems if nothing is done quickly.
At a press conference before the Lagos Waterfront Summit, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Yacoob Dayo Alebiosu, talked about the growing problems affecting the lagoon. These include pollution from factories, illegal fishing, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion caused by climate change.
The summit, called “Pressure on the Lagoon: The Lagos Experience,” will take place on September 11 at the Eko Hotel and Suites. It aims to bring attention to the problems facing Lagos’ waterfront areas and discuss ways to develop them in a sustainable way.
Alebiosu said the Lagos Lagoon is under serious pressure from human activities and climate change. He warned that if urgent steps are not taken, this important natural area and the people who depend on it could be lost.
According to Alebiosu, the lagoon is now one of the most polluted in Africa. Every day, over 10,000 cubic metres of industrial waste is dumped into it. This waste, mostly from oil, textile, and manufacturing companies, contains dangerous metals like mercury, cadmium, lead, and nickel.
Besides industrial waste, sewage from homes and chemicals from farms are also polluting the lagoon. These harmful substances are putting aquatic life and public health at risk.
Alebiosu also spoke about the problem of overfishing, especially through illegal methods. This has caused a sharp drop in the number of fish, which harms both the lagoon’s ecosystem and the income of fishing communities.
He also said that activities like sand mining, dredging, and unregulated land reclamation are changing the natural shape of the lagoon and destroying habitats for many species.
The Commissioner raised concern about Lagos’ fast urban growth. He said this expansion is eating into important wetland areas, which are natural protections against flooding and support both people and wildlife.
“Each wetland that disappears increases the risk of flooding,” Alebiosu warned. He explained that building in these sensitive areas is making the city more likely to suffer from floods.
He also mentioned that many drainage systems are now blocked with plastic and other non-biodegradable waste, which makes flooding worse during the rainy season.
