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The newly inaugurated Shoreline Developers Association of Lagos (SDAL), has urged the Federal and Lagos State governments to immediately develop a 50 to 100-year master plan for the state’s coastline, warning that indiscriminate shoreline reclamation could undermine Lagos’ future if left unchecked.
The association said Lagos’ coastline, estimated to be worth over $1 trillion, should no longer be viewed merely as land reclamation sites but as strategic economic assets capable of driving tourism, renewable energy, fisheries, maritime logistics, transportation and sustainable urban development.
Speaking at the inauguration of the association in Wasimi, Maryland, Lagos, on Friday, SDAL President, Lai Omotola, said the phenomenal growth in shoreline property investment had made sustainable coastal planning an urgent national priority.
According to him, shoreline property values have surged by 751 per cent over the past five years, while planning permit and title registration fees have risen by about 300 per cent, attracting a wave of investors, many of whom pay little attention to environmental sustainability.
“Our vision is to ensure that development complements nature, not destroys it. We must move beyond crisis management to long-term strategic planning that protects our coastline for future generations,” Omotola said.
He described SDAL as a self-regulatory body committed to promoting science-driven, technology-based and climate-compliant shoreline development.
Omotola stressed that shoreline development goes far beyond sand-filling, saying Lagos possesses enormous untapped opportunities in fisheries, offshore wind farms, marinas, coastal rail infrastructure, renewable energy, eco-tourism and high-value port logistics.
He urged government regulators to focus less on revenue generation and more on providing the critical infrastructure needed to unlock the coastline’s enormous economic potential.
The SDAL president called for an integrated shoreline master plan, comprehensive drainage infrastructure, strict environmental and social impact assessments and the deployment of advanced technology to safeguard coastal communities.
Warning that climate change is already threatening coastal cities worldwide, Omotola cited rising sea levels, increasingly severe storm surges and land subsidence caused by excessive groundwater extraction as major risks confronting Lagos.
