Lagos state House of Assembly has stated that majority of the dredgers in the state do not have permits from the State Government.
The Chairman, House Committee on 7-Man Ad Hoc Committee on Dredging, Hon. Victor Akande stated this during investigation visits to the inland dredging areas of the state.
Lagos Today gathered that the visit was done in continuation of the inspection of illegal dredging activities in the State
It reports that The Committee inspected the dredging areas of Awoyaya areas of Ajah met with represemtatives of Niirend Nigeria Limited, Rockstar Shelter Limited, Horlegin Resources Limited and Hon. Bayo Balogun Company in Old Bodije at Ibeju Lekki Local Government, to assess and evaluate the representation of their dredging conducts.
The Committee inspected the dredging areas of Awoyaya areas of Ajah met with represemtatives of Niirend Nigeria Limited, Rockstar Shelter Limited, Horlegin Resources Limited and Hon. Bayo Balogun Company in Old Bodije at Ibeju Lekki Local Government, to assess and evaluate the representation of their dredging conducts.
“During our investigation, we discovered that that many of them did not have permits for dredging and selling from the State Government even though National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) approved most of the sites in the area.
“We also discovered that the roads leading to the dredging sites are in a state of delapidation and are still in use despite their terrible state.
“Lagos is about to become a smart-city and we cannot have the roads in the communities in a deplorable state.” He lamented.
A Resident of Awoyaya Community Mr. Fetus Olayemi, commented on the dredgers flouting orders for the ceasing of their activities during the lockdown, and without regard to the peace of the people.
“They just continue dredging while endangering the lives and properties of the communities around the areas.
He informed the Committee that their community leader had informed them that dredging activities during lockdown would take place only at night due to the lockdown thereby creating discomfort.
One of the representatives of Uniquedros Limited, Mr. Femi Abebe, who has been in the business of dredging since 1995 explained that as dredgers, they have also had issues with the local touts in the area who continually harass them for money thereby making the business environment stifling.
Abebe added that Nigerians had been replaced by foreigners in the dredging sector in the area.
Meanwhile, The Committee invited the dredging companies to furnish the House with copies of their permits and other relevant documents for verification next week Wednesday.
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