STAKEHOLDERS MEETING ON THE MANAGEMENT, SANITATION AND REVENUE GENERATION OF ELEKO BEACH

A Strategic meeting was held between the representatives of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government and the community leaders of Eleko, Badore, and Iberekodo on Tuesday 24th March, 2026 concerning the management, cleanliness, and Revenue Generation of Eleko Beach. The Executive Chairman, Hon. Engr. Abdullahi Sesan Olowa, who was ably represented by the Supervisor for Tourism and Housing, Hon. Alonge Fatai. Also present were Hon. Shakirat Bisola, Special Adviser on Business and Economic Development, and Mr. Omole Sheriff, Head of Unit, Tourism Unit, alongside elders and youth representatives of the Eleko community. The meeting commenced with an opening prayer by one of the elders, after Hon. Alonge Fatai addressed the gathering. In his speech, he emphasized the poor state of the beach, noting that it has not been properly maintained compared to earlier years. He referenced the tenure of Otunba M.O. Alogba, during which the beach was well managed, and also mentioned that, as far back as 1999, the beach was largely controlled by the Local Government before it came under community management. He stressed that before any meaningful Revenue can be generated from the beach, proper sanitation must first be ensured by the Environmental Department, with adequate supervision put in place. He further explained that the Government would need to monitor the activities of hotels and markets around the beach and hinted at the possibility of introducing a monthly levy to support the cleanliness and maintenance of the beach The entire Community appreciated the presence of the Tourism Supervisor and expressed hope for better collaboration. The community emphasized that the youth are actively involved in maintaining the beach and appealed to the Government to help regulate and support them. Baale Eleko, raised security concerns, stating that the responsibility lies mainly with the Government due to its authority and capacity. He called for urgent intervention to ensure safety and proper order at the beach. Other community members also contributed, emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure, especially roads, which have made access to the beach difficult and discouraged visitors. Several elders, including Prince Adekunle Labia, Mr. Balogun Saheed, chief Fatai Alaba, Chief Rasak Ekundayo, and Alhaji Elepoju Agbaraojo, also spoke on key issues affecting the beach. They highlighted challenges such as poor security, harassment by some law enforcement agents, lack of proper waste disposal systems, and illegal land encroachment near the beachfront. They appealed for collaboration with the Government and requested provisions such as waste bins, designated disposal systems, and solar lighting to improve the Environment. In his response, Hon. Alonge appreciated all contributions and assured the community that efforts are being made to address their concerns. He promised that solar lights would be looked into and explained that security would require joint cooperation between the Government and the Community to ensure fairness and effectiveness. On waste management, he introduced the use of “Keke Jaja ” for waste collection at a minimal fee (₦800–₦1000), due to the inability of Lawma trucks to access the area because of bad roads. He emphasized that maintaining cleanliness is a shared responsibility and not solely the duty of the Government. He further assured that trained personnel would be engaged to properly manage and monitor the beach. Regarding road conditions, he explained that previous repair efforts were affected by rainfall, and the Government is working on a more durable solution. He also informed the Community that a consultant would be visiting to provide professional guidance on effective Beach Management. He concluded by assuring them that all their concerns would be communicated to the Executive Chairman. The vote of thanks was delivered by Hon. Shakirat Bisola, who appreciated all attendees and appealed for patience and continued support, especially from the youths. The meeting ended with photographs taken by both Government Representatives and community leaders.