LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
By Oyebola Owolabi
Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development Yacoob Alebiosu has said government will investigate the accident which damaged the groins along the coastline at the Mayegun Waterfront Scheme, near Eko Atlantic City.
According to him, the ministry will not depend on public reports but summon the company for further investigations to uncover the real cause of the accident. Results of the investigation will also be made public, he added.
Alebiosu, who described the accident as sad, said the government has been battling to preserve and protect coastline communities from extinction by using groins.
He said: “While the state is working on this, we won’t allow our existing infrastructure along the waterfront corridor be damaged, potentially due to negligence.
“It cost the government N7 billion to build the groins that were destroyed by the vessel. But we will summon the company, and investigations will be done to uncover the real cause of the accident.
“Protecting our coastal areas has been very challenging for us in Lagos. We have invested billions in constructing these groins. Some of our communities are already ravaged by coastal erosion. The groin destroyed by the company in Mayegun cost us N7 billion.
“Okunde, Idotun, Origanrigan, Olomowewe, Itoke, Asoroko, Igbekodo, and Akodo Ise are communities still pleading for our attention. They need groins to save their communities. As of last year, constructing a kilometre cost N12 billion. So we will not watch and allow the already constructed groins be destroyed.”
According to reports, the accident happened on July 29 after a vessel carrying petroleum product, owned by Quest Shipping Ltd, offloaded its products at the Apapa Port.
The ship typically receives petroleum products from the high sea before offloading and berthing at the ship anchorage outside the creek.
However, due to a massive wave encountered by the vessel, the anchor broke, and the undercurrent moved the ship over a distance of more than 10 nautical miles (18.52km) before it was eventually stopped. This caused significant damage to the multi-billion naira groins erected by the government to prevent coastal erosion in the area.
Technical Superintendent attached to the vessel, Fidelis Ilok, said it was an unfortunate incident. According to him, the accident happened at night while the crew slept. “It was dark, and the crew could do nothing until the waves pushed the vessel into the groins.
“The ship was anchored to the seabed. The 12-man crew was sleeping when the anchor broke, and the massive wave began to push the vessel up and down. It was total confusion until the groins at the shore stopped the vessel. The incident occurred after we had offloaded the petroleum products and anchored,” Ilok explained.
These groins, made of rocks or concrete, are used to prevent or reduce beach erosion. They are built perpendicular to the shoreline to trap sand carried along the coast by waves and currents, thus building and maintaining the beach on that side while also creating a more stable environment for piers or harbours.