Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Dayo Bush Alebiosu, has reiterated the state government’s commitment to transforming waterfront communities in Kosofe Local Government Area through structured urban regeneration projects aimed at improving safety, economic value and long-term sustainability.
Alebiosu made this known during a New Year media briefing with journalists in Lagos, where he described recent developments in Oworonshoki and adjoining waterfront areas as part of a deliberate effort to restore order and unlock the economic potential of communities located along the lagoon corridor.
Recalling the security challenges that once defined Oworonshoki, the commissioner noted that the area had suffered prolonged periods of violence and unrest, making movement unsafe for residents, especially in the evenings.
According to him, the current regeneration efforts are designed to reverse that narrative and reposition the community for growth.
He explained that interventions by relevant government agencies followed laid-down procedures, including the issuance of statutory notices where required, stressing that waterfront development must align with planning and environmental standards.
Describing Kosofe as his ancestral home, Alebiosu said his interest in the area goes beyond official responsibility, adding that its waterfront location presents immense opportunities for development comparable to what exists in other parts of Lagos Island.
He emphasised that meaningful urban renewal goes beyond short-term poverty alleviation schemes, arguing that long-term value creation through infrastructure, land regularisation and economic planning offers more sustainable benefits to residents.
The commissioner also clarified that demolition activities recently carried out in Oworonshoki were under the purview of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, not the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development. He said, however, that he had intervened in his personal capacity to support affected residents, including facilitating engagements at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
According to Alebiosu, he and some associates have also set up a foundation to assist families displaced by the exercise with relocation support, while dismissing what he described as misinformation surrounding the government’s intentions in the area.
On ongoing waterfront projects, the commissioner announced the completion of channelisation works in Agboyi–Ketu, adding that plans are underway for the formal launch of a jetty in the community.
He further disclosed that the Bariga Jetty, recently approved by the state governor, will be redeveloped into a modern fish market to enhance economic activities and livelihoods along the waterfront.
He said the regeneration programme would also cover the Ogudu and Bariga axis, as part of a broader plan to integrate waterfront infrastructure into Lagos’ urban development framework.
Alebiosu also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to environmental protection, particularly in regulating sand dredging activities along waterways.
He stressed that while sand remains critical for development, unregulated dredging poses serious risks to the environment and future generations.
According to him, strict monitoring and enforcement remain central to the ministry’s strategy to balance development with environmental sustainability, as Lagos continues to expand its waterfront infrastructure.
