Messrs Renecon Limited has been exonerated from blame regarding the mass death of caged fish at the state government Afuye caged fish cluster in Ebute Afuye, Epe, Lagos State.
According to a press statement made available to our correspondent, the incident, which occurred on March 16, 2024, had initially been attributed to dredging activities carried out by the company. However, an investigative panel constituted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has determined otherwise.
The 12-member panel, chaired by Hon. Sesan Olanrewaju of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), concluded that the claims against Renecon were unfounded.
The panel submitted that the laboratory analyses conducted by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) revealed that the lagoon water contained high levels of microbial activity linked to faecal waste, rather than harmful chemicals. The report indicated that the few chemicals present in the water were within acceptable limits.
According to the panel, the distance between Renecon’s dredging activity and the fish cluster, which is about 2 kilometers made it improbable that the company’s operations disrupted the water quality. The report pointed instead to other possible causes for the fish deaths, including poor maintenance of the caged fish cluster, water contamination, rising lagoon temperatures due to climate change, and oxygen depletion caused by the proliferation of water hyacinths.
During their investigation, the panel observed that many fish cages were poorly maintained, with dirty and silted conditions. Bamboo sticks pegged in the lagoon near the clusters were also noted, further highlighting the lack of proper management.
To prevent similar occurrences in the future, the panel recommended stricter regulation of activities around fish clusters. Transporter boats should maintain a minimum 100-meter distance from such areas, and Renecon Limited should adopt sedimentation boxes to prevent direct drainage of pumped sand water into the lagoon. The Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development was urged to enhance monitoring of dredging activities across the state, while the Ministry of Agriculture should provide fish farmers with education on global best practices and proper cluster maintenance.
Additionally, Messrs Renecon was asked to submit its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to the Ministry of Environment and Waste Resource for further review and consultations.
As part of its findings, the panel recommended a compensation package of ₦25 million for the affected fishermen and women, aimed at helping them restart their activities.
