Lagos State Government has announced bold new plans to tackle the growing threat of coastal erosion through strategic partnerships and the expanded deployment of Groyne technology, an initiative projected to cost over N3 trillion.
EpeInsights reports that the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Ekundayo Alebiosu, disclosed this on Monday during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa.
He revealed that the State Government is intensifying efforts to safeguard its 180-kilometre shoreline, with an urg+
t call for collaboration with the Federal Government and private sector players.
Alebiosu, who recently led a delegation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands to study global best practices, described the visit as pivotal in shaping Lagos’ approach to sustainable coastal management. He was accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Lolade Aina, and other officials.
“The use of groynes a proven coastal defence system has yielded impressive results globally, including in the Netherlands, where it is integrated with sand nourishment and nature-based solutions,” he said.
He explained that groynes, which are rigid hydraulic structures built from ocean shores to interrupt water flow and reduce sediment movement, have already been deployed in some parts of Lagos.
However, the Commissioner noted that scaling up the technology across the full length of the coastline presents a “significant financial burden.”
“With the cost of constructing a single groyne being substantial, expanding this intervention along the entire 180km stretch is projected to cost over N3 trillion,” Alebiosu said.
“This underscores the need for a robust, strategic collaboration. This is not just a Lagos problem, it is a national environmental and economic challenge.”
Alebiosu emphasised that coastal erosion poses an existential threat to entire communities and vital investments along the shoreline. Delaying action, he warned, could have devastating consequences for the state’s economy, environment, and coastal livelihoods.
The Commissioner highlighted that the Sanwo-Olu administration is developing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework to fund and execute large-scale coastal protection infrastructure, aligning with the government’s broader agenda to secure lives and assets while unlocking the economic potential of Lagos’ waterfronts.
“We are committed to working with international partners, federal agencies, and private investors to develop long-term, climate-resilient solutions that will preserve our coastline for generations to come,” he added.
The Dutch experience, Alebiosu said, has inspired Lagos to adapt sustainable and economically viable models to local conditions, as the state braces for more climate-related threats in the coming years.
