DREDGERS ASSOCIATION APPEALS TO SANWO-OLU OVER ALLEGED EXTORTION, URGES GOVERNOR TO CALL ALEBIOSU, CARDOZO TO ‘ORDER’

The Dredgers Association of Nigeria has appealed to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to investigate alleged harassment, intimidation and extortion of sand dredgers and tipper truck operators.

In a statement, the association accused enforcement officers operating under Commissioner Ekundayo Alebiosu and a senior official identified as Cardozo of unlawfully impounding trucks and demanding payments of up to ₦500,000 before releasing them.

The group also alleged that officers sometimes arrived with armed police personnel and used the governor’s name to justify their actions. These claims have not been independently established.

DAN Secretary-General Richard Ntan urged Sanwo-Olu to intervene, saying members operating lawful businesses should not face intimidation or arbitrary payment demands.

He maintained that the operators pay royalties to the Federal Government, provide employment and deserve protection from unlawful interference.

The association also raised concerns about the interpretation of court judgments on regulatory authority over sand mining and activities near the shoreline.

According to DAN, enforcement activities temporarily stopped after it served the officials with Form 48, a notice concerning alleged disobedience of a court order. The group said the activities later resumed following another Supreme Court judgment concerning authority within 100 metres of the shoreline.

DAN argued that the shoreline provision should not be used to disrupt legitimate sand-dumping sites. That position represents the association’s interpretation of the judgments.

The group asked the governor to investigate its complaints, ensure enforcement officers act within their powers and facilitate discussions involving state officials, federal mining authorities and dredging operators.

It said its appeal was aimed at protecting businesses and jobs while ensuring respect for the rule of law.

The statement provided did not include responses from Alebiosu, Cardozo or the Lagos State Government.