The Lagos State Government has sealed an illegal and unauthorised container terminal operating in Ibeshe, Ikorodu axis of the State.
Speaking during the special operation in Ibeshe on Friday, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, said that the Lagos State Government had to move swiftly to prevent further degradation in the built environment of Ibeshe by sealing the unapproved terminal located beside the Government jetty in the area.
He cautioned that Government would not tolerate any situation that could lead to a recurrence of the unpleasant experience with tank firms and terminals at Ijegun-Egba and Satelite town.
The Commissioner decried the destructive impact of the activities of the container terminal on the environment, especially as it affects the newly constructed Ebute-Ibeshe road, saying “The indiscriminate parking and stacking of containers in an unbridled manner would have a negative impact on the environment as well as damage the new road constructed with taxpayers money, in addition to constituting danger to children in the neighbourhood”.
He explained that Government had a well-established procedure for licensing terminals and mining activities on the shoreline in such a way that all factors necessary for a livable and sustainable built environment would have been taken into cognisance.
Salako urged anyone interested in the establishment of container terminals and sand mining to seek the approval of the appropriate authorities including the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources among others.
The Commissioner also enjoined community leaders and residents to maintain round the clock surveillance of their communities and report any untoward physical development in the area to relevant authorities.
