Press Releases

Bar Beach Surge: LASG Allays Fear Of Overflow Of Victoria Island

May 31, 2009 - Following the anxiety caused by the spillover of water from the Atlantic Ocean on Ahmadu Bellow Way, Victoria Island, at the weekend, the Lagos State Government Sunday assured Lagosians that there is no cause for alarm.

The State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure and Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, who gave the assurance at a press interaction at the Bar Beach, explained that what happened overnight Friday and Saturday was as a result of the Spring Tide which, at this time of the year, causes the Atlantic Ocean to rise about half a metre and with an accompanying strong wave, causes the water to spillover onto the road.

“What happened overnight Friday and Saturday was not an overflow of water. Rather, it is a spillover due to the strong wave that pushed the water over the edge of the barriers onto the walkway and Ahmadu Bello Way”, Oniru explained pointing out that the water was immediately drained away by the self drain built near the walkways.

According to the Commissioner, this kind of phenomenon happens twice a year, first in May or early June and second in November, adding, “What happened is not new. Everyone that lives on the Island expects this to happen. It is something that happens twice a year; it is nature, you cannot control it and Lagosians and Islanders are aware of that”.

The Commissioner, who insisted that the break built by the State Government to check the surge of the Ocean and the consequent overflow of the Beach and the surrounding Island is a permanent solution to the erosion problem of the Bar Beach, declared, “The time when the water from the Ocean surges directly onto Ahmadu Bello Way is now really a thing of the past”.

He recalled that about three or four years ago, before the erection of the barriers, the Bar Beach was eroded up to the Ahmadu Bello Way adding that at that time, those living on the Island were living in fear while those who could not contain their anxiety, relocated elsewhere.

The Commissioner said because of the permanent solution put in place by the State Government, sand is being pushed to the shoreline , adding, “ This sand submerge some of the X- blocks put in place to break the energy of the waves; so when a strong wind comes, it pushes water over the edge taking some sand with It. It is the business of government to clear this sand when this happens”.

He said the next level of the protection of Victoria Island is the development of the area called the Eko Atlantic City which, according to him, will be built eight metres above water with a sea defense wall of same height and will ensure that all land taken by the ocean is reclaimed.

“The entire city that will be created over this Ocean was tested in Copenhagen, Denmark. After we were sure it held up at seven metres above the Ocean, they had to increase by an additional metre to increase the safety factor” Oniru said, adding, “I can assure you that the developer is spending the money to put all this in place so that the city will be fully protected”.

Acknowledging, however, that even the highest technology cannot guarantee full proof, Oniru declared, “A Scientist or an Engineer can only design what he is putting in place to the best of his ability and his knowledge. What the developer is doing today is putting in place what has been designed by consultants and engineers from countries that live below sea level and they know better”.

Reminded that similar project in Japan and Holland has become a source of worry to the governments of those countries as a result of the fact that the cities have begun to sink, the Commissioner assured that such would not happen to the proposed Eko Atlantic City “because it is a different scenario entirely. What will affect them over there will not affect us here”.

On the issue of touts and area boys collecting money from visitors to the beach as tickets, Oniru declared that the State Government has not authorized anyone to collect rent fees of any type from visitors and sight seers to the Beach, adding, “Lagosians should know that the Bar Beach is free to everybody, do not let anybody harass you or collect money from you”.