The Lagos State Government has sealed five Container Terminals along the Kirikiri coast for operating illegally without recourse to the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law.
The sealing of the Container Terminal facilities, which are becoming ubiquitous along the coastlines of the State, was the outcome of a special enforcement exercise coordinated by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in conjunction with the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako stated that the Container Terminals were operating without the approval of the Lagos State Government, while their operations had been observed to constitute a menace to the watercourse of Lagos State.
Declaring that no such operations with high potential impact on the physical environment should be allowed to go on without proper regulation, Salako added that that the Container Terminals that were sealed had been hiding under the guise of having Federal approval to operate but could not present, on demand, any permit legalising the location of their facilities.
He said that the State Government had said repeatedly, without mincing words, that it will halt the spate of illegal physical development and give proper planning its pride of place towards achieving the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.
The Commissioner, therefore, enjoined Tank Farm operators along the corridor to comply with the ultimatum issued by the government on legalising their operations before it lapses at the end of February 2021, advising them to approach the Ministry for regularisation of their activities.
He implored the Operators to reciprocate the compassion and understanding displayed by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and resume discussions on how to actualise their approvals and Corporate Social Responsibility in their respective bases of operations.
The Managing Director, LASWA, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, remarked that all activities on the waterways of the State are being controlled through constant surveillance and monitoring, which would not give room for any illegal operation that could be inimical to the progress of the State.
