The Lagos State Government through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MOE&WR) has announced the immediate suspension of all land reclamation activities across the state.
This directive, issued by Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab, is in response to the widespread proliferation of unauthorised reclamation on wetlands, floodplains, and lagoons.
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Wahab noted with concern that many of these projects, particularly in areas like Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, and Lekki, are being undertaken without the necessary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approvals and drainage clearance.
He warned that such unregulated activities pose significant environmental and social risks, including increased vulnerability to flooding, coastal erosion, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of local livelihoods, especially fishing.
Given Lagos’s low-lying topography, Wahab stated that the state cannot allow these indiscriminate projects to continue.
“All ongoing and planned reclamation activities must now cease immediately. Projects with prior approval must be submitted to the ministry for documentation and monitoring, while all others must undergo the full EIA process and obtain an approval letter and drainage clearance”, he said.
Wahab revealed that the ministry has given a seven-day ultimatum for compliance.
He added that failure to adhere to the suspension will result in the deployment of “appropriate machineries” to decommission the sites, including excavation, removal of fill, and the unblocking of water channels.
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The commissioner also warned that anyone involved in illegal reclamation would face arrest and prosecution.
