The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of all ongoing and proposed land reclamation projects across the state, citing severe environmental and social risks associated with uncontrolled activities.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement raised alarm over the rapid spread of unauthorized reclamation works on wetlands, floodplains, and lagoon fronts in high-risk locations such as Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Ojo, and Badagry.
According to him, many of the projects were being executed without mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, approvals or drainage clearances from the ministry.
“While reclamation may create room for urban development, the associated dangers cannot be overlooked. These include heightened flooding risks, coastal erosion, disruption of livelihoods, particularly for fishing communities, loss of wetlands and biodiversity, reduction in lagoon capacity, and deterioration of water quality,” Wahab said.
Wahab noted that given Lagos’ low-lying terrain and fragile ecosystem, the government would no longer condone reckless reclamation practices that compromise the safety and wellbeing of residents.
The suspension, which takes immediate effect, requires all approved reclamation projects to be resubmitted to the ministry for documentation and monitoring. In addition, ongoing and proposed projects must undergo a full EIA process and secure clearance before continuation.
He issued a seven-day compliance deadline, warning that defaulters would face strict sanctions, including site decommissioning, excavation and removal of illegal fills, reopening of obstructed water channels, as well as arrests and prosecution.
“Enough is enough,” Wahab declared, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting the state from avoidable ecological disasters.
