Residents of Ilashe, a coastal community accessible only by water in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, have raised the alarm over ongoing, illegal sand dredging in the area.
This, the residents said on Friday, would not only destroy their means of livelihood which is mostly fishing but would eventually lead to the destruction of their homes.
A resort owner, Akin Disu, who has lived in Ilashe for 17 years, first raised the alarm on social media via his Instagram handle which he described as a brazen act of vandalism.
He wrote, “In an act of vandalism so brazen and criminal, we watch helplessly as the sand banks in Ilashe are mined by unknown people with the backing of those who should know better.
“The sand banks of Ilashe are not only an essential part of the ecosystem supporting rich shellfish life in the shallow waters which in turn support a fishing industry the locals depend on for their livelihood, but they also act as dams moderating the flow of millions of gallons of water from flowing down river destabilising the land.
“The consequences of this irresponsible act will be far-reaching. Resulting not only in the loss of livelihood for those who live around there, it will impact the availability of fish and seafood for generations to come and a loss of land due to erosion.”
He called on the Lagos State Government to do the needful and act immediately to “halt this destruction before it is too late.”
In a telephone conversation with Saturday PUNCH, Disu said he noticed the dredging a few days ago when he visited the area, adding that the effects were already visible.
He said, “The locals, especially the fishermen, complained bitterly that the dredging is already having effects on them and their means of livelihood because fishes in the area are being chased away as a result of the dredging.
“I was shocked that the locals understood the consequences of what was going on. They said their land would disappear sooner or later because the sand serves as dams for their homes.
“We are not saying that these people shouldn’t mine, because we use sand for building houses, which is also important as well, but they should be restricted to certain areas. We do not know who they are, there should be regulations that guide such practices.”
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said water now enters their village and has destroyed their means of livelihood.
