The Dredgers Association of Nigeria (DAN) has issued a direct appeal to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, requesting urgent executive intervention over alleged harassment, extortion, and heavy-handed enforcement by officials within the state's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
In an official petition and public statement released on Friday, October 23, 2026, the leadership of the association specifically called out key government representatives—including the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Yacoob Alebiosu, and officials of the Solid Minerals Department led by Emilio Cardozo—demanding an immediate stop to unauthorized levies, operational disruptions, and arbitrary site closures.
The association warned that persistent friction between state regulatory tasks and sand dredging operators risks crippling the local construction supply chain, driving up building material costs across Lagos metropolis.
According to the association, despite paying statutory federal and state environmental fees, legitimate operators are increasingly subjected to duplicate levies, taskforce raids, and sudden stop-work orders enforced by ministry taskteams.
The dredgers alleged that enforcement teams frequently confiscate equipment, halt legal sand mining operations, and demand unapproved operational clearances without providing clear statutory frameworks or administrative recourse.
The dispute underscores long-standing jurisdictional tensions in Nigeria regarding the regulation of inland waterways and mineral extraction. Under national mining guidelines, the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) hold primary statutory oversight over sand dredging and mineral extraction permits. Conversely, the Lagos State Government insists on enforcing local environmental impact assessments, land-use taxes, and road protection frameworks to mitigate erosion, flooding, and infrastructural damage caused by heavy sand-hauling trucks.
The association urged the Lagos State Government to harmonize regulatory oversight with federal agencies rather than subjecting operators to conflicting enforcement regimes.
The Dredgers Association urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to convene a tripartite stakeholder reconciliation meeting comprising association executives, state ministry leaders, and federal regulators to establish a transparent, unified operational framework.
As of press time, representatives from the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development have yet to issue a formal counter-statement regarding the petition.