By SCM Staff Writer
LAGOS, Nigeria — The Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development (MWID) in Lagos State is charting a new and tougher course for 2026, with Commissioner Hon. Dayo Bush Alebiosu announcing a renewed strategic direction focused on stricter enforcement and increased efficiency.
In a management staff meeting held today to review past performance and set goals, Hon. Alebiosu commended the Ministry’s workforce for their dedication and resilience, highlighting the notable progress achieved over the past year in strengthening waterfront infrastructure and promoting sustainable development.
Focus on Enforcement and New Schemes
The Commissioner pointed to the successful creation of critical waterfront schemes, including the Okun-Ajah Scheme, Okunde Scheme, and Oworo Waterfront Scheme, as major achievements of his tenure. Looking ahead, he issued a stern warning to illegal occupants, declaring that enforcement operations would be intensified in 2026 to protect the rights of rightful property owners within these demarcated areas.
”We have to enforce,” Alebiosu stated emphatically. “We are very much aware of some encroachers on these schemes; therefore, our body language must be in conformity with the language they speak.”
A Renewed Approach to Governance
Affirming that 2026 would “not be business as usual,” Hon. Alebiosu announced the introduction of a new policy direction designed to reposition the MWID.
This approach aims for greater efficiency, improved service delivery, and enhanced public confidence, intending to inject “fresh zeal” into the workforce and align the Ministry with the State’s broader developmental agenda.
A key pillar of the upcoming strategy involves establishing a stronger and more beneficial synergy with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and its subsidiaries.
This collaborative partnership is already underway and is intended to ensure strict adherence to the State’s building and construction regulations, thereby promoting orderly development and guaranteeing compliance with laid-down standards across all waterfront areas.
Permanent Secretary ESV Wasiu Olayinka, who was present at the meeting, echoed the Commissioner’s sentiments, urging department heads to foster teamwork and togetherness to successfully meet the Ministry’s 2026 goals.
The new policy and enforcement drive signal a heightened commitment by the Lagos State administration to regulate and protect its valuable coastal assets.
