32 abandoned shipwrecks found in Lagos

Lagos State Government, yesterday, said no fewer than 32 abandoned vessels were discovered onthe state’s coastline. It appealed to the Federal Governmentto release ecologicalfund to the state to address erosion challenges at Alpha Beach in the state. Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, PrinceAdesegun Oniru, who stated this at the 2012 ministerial briefing in commemoration of first year of the second term of Governor Babatunde Fashola administration, also condemned the environmental degradation caused by abandoned vessels on the state’s coastline. He said some of the abandoned vessels were oil tankers, which can wipe out communities in the area within three months, if nothing was done to address the situation. Oniru said: “Some ofthe vessels are oil tankers and you can imagine what happens to marine life when such vessels are scattered on the coastlines. Today, the ministry had found about 32 vessels across our 180km beach forest.” He said lives and property on Alpha Beach are being threatened by the recurring erosion inthe area.