Shoreline Developers Seek 100 Year Master Plan for Lagos Coastal Development

The Shoreline Developers Association of Lagos (SDAL) has called for joint funding of a 50 to 100 year master plan for the sustainable development of Lagos’ shoreline, which accounts for about 40 per cent of the state’s landmass.

The association also said its vision was to see the beauty of nature complemented by development to improve the lifestyle and living conditions of residents, while urging stakeholders to pay less attention to revenue generation from the shoreline and focus more on sustainable development.

The President of SDAL, Eng. Lai Omotola, made the call during a media briefing held as part of the association’s inaugural programme at Ebootcamp, Wasimi, Maryland, Lagos.

In his speech, titled, “Beyond the Profits to Sustainability,” Omotola clarified that the association’s position was not intended to raise alarm but to encourage stakeholders to be proactive and shift from crisis response to long term strategic planning.

According to him, property values along the Lagos shoreline have increased by 751 per cent in the past five years, while planning permit and title registration fees in the state have also risen by about 300 per cent, indicating growing business activity in the area.

He, however, expressed concern over the rush by investors to make fortunes from the growing prosperity of the shoreline without adequate consideration for the environment and nature.

Omotola also corrected the impression that shoreline development was solely about sand filling, highlighting the potential of fisheries, wind farms, coastal railways, the Marina, renewable energy, high value port logistics and eco tourism.

The SDAL president said regulation should not be focused solely on increasing government revenue but should also facilitate the development of superior infrastructure capable of generating sustainable economic returns.

He listed the urgent priorities to include the design and implementation of a comprehensive drainage network, a Shoreline Master Plan, Social and Environmental Impact Assessments, and the deployment of advanced technology.

Omotola said the recent flooding experienced along the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway was not caused by the project, but attributed it to years of neglect of due diligence by owners of some affected buildings.

He warned that it would be suicidal for anyone to construct a structure today only to demolish it within 10 years because of flood related threats.

He assured that the association would engage relevant stakeholders, including the Minister of Works, Eng. Dave Umahi, to develop a far reaching position on the future of Lagos’ shoreline.

According to him, one of the major challenges facing shoreline development is the high cost of advanced equipment required to undertake such projects effectively.

“Shoreline is a luxury that comes with global threats of sea level rise, intense storm surges and groundwater extraction sinking at 4mm per year. There cannot be a better time to pay serious attention to environmental threats.

“We are not alone. This is a global problem; therefore, we must work according to best global practices,” he said.

Omotola also disclosed that Lagos State must prepare for the impact of the $3.3 billion Lagos Calabar Coastal Road.

He cautioned against conflicts among agencies of the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government, noting that the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority remains the frontline government agency responsible for the development and safeguarding of the nation’s waterways.

He therefore called for increased funding for the agency to enable it to effectively discharge its responsibilities.

Omotola maintained that no amount invested in shoreline development would be unrecoverable, describing Lagos’ shoreline as an untapped $1 trillion asset with the potential to become a major eco friendly and tourist destination.