Federal Government and residents of Victoria Island, especially those who live close to Ahmadu Bello Way, have commended the Lagos State government on measures put in place to control the surge of the Bar Beach.

A cross-section of residents who spoke to Daily Independent last Tuesday said the latest of the Lagos State government interventions would go a long way at returning the lost confidence of some of them about the future of the area.

Mr. Ibidun Amole, a resident, said that, at a point, he thought of selling his house but government's efforts to address the problem had made him change his mind and, instead, leased out the property.

Another resident, Mrs. Adaku Emmanuel, predicted that the effort of the Lagos State government would lead to a rise in property value in the area while the proposed reclamation project would further enhance the status of the community, regarded as one of the most expensive enclaves on the African continent.

The position of the Federal Government was made known by Chief Economic Adviser to the President,Tanimu Yakubu. He said the Lagos State government had through its foresight succeeded in transforming what almost everyone regarded as a danger and liability to a potential asset to the state.

He also applauded the efforts of the present leadership in the state for carrying the vision forward in boosting the nation's territorial waters and using science and technology to tackle challenges spun by nature.

He said, "It is very heartwarming that a member of my generation is at the forefront of the quest to reclaim the bar beach. You are adding to our landscape with your latest efforts."

It was observed that some residents show apathy towards the current efforts of the Lagos State government because of the failure of government's interventions in the past. They said that they are waiting to see how far the current work will take the area to.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, traced the genesis of the erosion problem at the Bar Beach to the construction of channels, moles and harbours between 1905 and 1908.

He added that this was done to facilitate easy movement of ships and ocean liners into the Apapa port and in later years the Tin Can Island port.

Fashola recalled that the erosion problems worsened with the increase in the number of ships arriving at the two ports and other port related operations.

The governor commended the immediate past administration of the state under Senator Bola Tinubu for commencing work towards finding a lasting solution to the erosion problem of the Bar Beach and transforming what was a threat and liabilities into a revenue-yielding venture.