It is regrettable that the majority of Ilaje coastal settlements, similar to other communities along the Gulf of Guinea's coastline, have been adversely affected by development activities such as deep dredging and land reclamation, as highlighted by our retired General.
The harsh reality is that the state government currently lacks the resources to address sea encroachment, and the federal government is unlikely to undertake such projects when a more cost-effective and sustainable solution—relocation—exists. I will set aside oil exploration as a factor in the cases we are examining—from Aiyetoro, Orioke Iwamimo, Abẹ'rẹkẹ, and others—because while climate change can be partially linked to oil exploration, it is an established fact that, the primary culprits are the various deep sea port projects initiated in the Gulf of Guinea, the Eko Atlantic project, the reclamation of over 50% of Lagos Lagoon (Lamgbaha), the canalization of major rivers in Lagos and Ogun states, and the reclamation of wetlands and swamps in Lagos, Ogun, and particularly Ilaje LGA.
All these initiatives are developmental projects undertaken by both the government and private entities. Therefore, if it is accepted that developmental projects can result in the relocation of populations, I believe we should focus our efforts on engaging with the government at all levels to secure alternative housing for the communities impacted by encroachment, for one simple reason—the ongoing reclamation activities will not cease.
