The Federal Government, in conjunction with Lagos State Government, on Tuesday ordered the stoppage of barge operations, which have desecrated the Marina coastline.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is to revoke barging approvals granted some companies operating in the area.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who inspected activities around the Marina coastline, made the stop-work order during a visit on Tuesday.
Amaechi and Sanwo-Olu found the unwholesome activities on the coastline shocking and unacceptable.
The Minister spoke of an urgent need to sanitise the entire Marina coastline and restore its glory.
He ordered that trucks must immediately stop coming to Marina to load.
Amechi said the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) did not grant anyone the permission to carry out barging operations, insisting that all such activities must stop immediately.
“The Federal Ministry of Transport has agreed with Lagos State Government to ensure that whoever is making use of Marina coastline should stop. We have agreed with the Commissioner of Police to stop those using the roads and we have agreed with NPA to cancel all barge permits pending when each person will come back to NPA, NIWA and Lagos State Government to renew such approval,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu directed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to arrest and prosecute anyone who flouted the order to stop unauthorized activities on the Marina. He said the state government would do everything to bring sanity to the coastline.
“We are also talking to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing because we understand that some of the approvals were from the Federal Ministry of Works. So, we are also taking up that responsibility and we would do what we need do,” the Governor said.
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