Coastal Erosion: Togolese President Commends Eko Atlantic City

• Coastal Erosion: Togolese President Commends Eko Atlantic City

The President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe, has commended the promoters of the Eko Atlantic City on the technique adopted to provide a permanent solution to coastal erosion.

He gave the commendation during a tour of the new city, led by the Chairman of South Energyx Nigeria Limited, Mr Ronald Chagoury, on Friday, according to a statement on Sunday.

Coastal erosion, a menace experienced throughout West Africa, has been an ongoing problem for hundreds of years impacting the lives of millions of Africans, the statement said.

The Eko Atlantic City has proved to be a sustainable solution to this threat with the construction of a great sea revetment known as the ‘Great Wall of Lagos’.

The Great Wall of Lagos was constructed soon after the collapse of the Bar Beach in 2005. Its construction was an urgent action required to protect the shoreline of Victoria Island and Lekki, and the potential loss thousands of lives, homes, businesses and vast areas of developed land, the statement added.

Speaking during the tour, Chagoury stated, “Eko Atlantic City came up as a solution to address the erosion that was fast destroying the coast of Victoria Island and its environs. We recognised that an urgent step had to be taken to protect the shoreline of Victoria Island and reclaim the land that had been lost.

“As a result, the Eko Atlantic City project came up as a permanent solution to the coastal erosion of Victoria Island and parts of Lekki, and we have ensured this through the construction of the Great Wall of Lagos.”

“In fact, this endeavour has not only stopped erosion, it has created a smart city, a financial hub and has united us with our neighbours to come together in the fight against ongoing coastal erosion.

The Togolese leader was quoted as saying, “Like Victoria Island, seaside communities along Togo’s coast and in many African countries have long lived with the consequences of erosion from the Atlantic Ocean.

“However, with sustainable solutions and innovative partnership with the private sector, we can tackle coastal erosion and bring an end to this environmental issue.”