Lagos: The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has acquired a 150‑horsepower speedboat to strengthen its crackdown on illegal dredging across the state’s waterways.
NSCDC’s State Commandant, Mr Adedotun Keshinro, disclosed that the Ministry of Works donated the speedboat to assist the command in effectively tackling illegal dredging activities across the state’s waterways.
Speaking at the boat’s inauguration, he noted that the ship would also strengthen maritime security and environmental protection.
While handing over the boat to the Marine and Infrastructure unit, Keshinro said the focus would be on monitoring illegal dredgers around the Third Mainland, Carter, Eko, and all other bridges in the state.
“We have been having conversations with all the stakeholders around this bridge, or those who have activities with the bridge, for us to work together with a view to stopping the activities of illegal dredgers.
“And as we are carrying this out in Lagos, they are also doing the same thing in the office of the national security adviser by inviting all the stakeholders to this campaign and receiving regular updates for us to be able to work and stop these illegal dredgers.
“The agreement and conclusion were that within a one-kilometre radius, there should not be any activity.
“For us to be able to deepen this campaign, we have established the marine and infrastructure protection unit designated to carry out the monitoring of illegal dredger activities,” he said.
Mr Emmanuel Oloyede would head the Lagos NSCDC Marine and Infrastructure Protection Unit.
Keshinro said they could not categorise all dredgers as illegal because the relevant regulatory agencies licensed some.
He explained that during discussions with the operators, the NSCDC discovered that many of them held valid licences, but the Corps did not want them operating outside their approved boundaries.
He added that the NSCDC had Mining Marshals in its mining department who monitored dredging activities to identify legal and illegal operators, and that anyone found operating unlawfully would be arrested and prosecuted.
Mr Peter Mkenchor, Chairman of the Ijora GRA Estate, commended the Federal Government and described the donation as a welcome development.
He said sea pirates had previously terrorised them, but that no such incidents had occurred in the last five years due to the presence of NSCDC officials.
He appealed for attention to the provision of a proper jetty, noting that speedboats should not be tied to private facilities.
