The Lagos State Government has ordered the suspension of all reclamation projects across the state, regardless of whether they possess Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approvals or drainage clearance.
The directive, issued on Thursday in a statement personally signed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, mandated that all ongoing and approved reclamation works be submitted to the ministry for documentation and monitoring.
He further stressed that all new or continuing projects must undergo the EIA process and secure proper drainage clearance before proceeding.
“Failure to comply with this directive within the next seven days will leave the Ministry with no option but to decommission the reclaimed sites. This will include excavation, removal of fill materials, and reconnection of already blocked water channels on the Lagoon,” Wahab warned.
The Commissioner also cautioned that individuals or organisations who flout the directive risk arrest and prosecution once the seven-day grace period elapses.
Wahab expressed deep concern about the rising number of reclamation activities on wetlands, floodplains, and lagoons across Lagos, noting that the practice has become prevalent in areas such as Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, Ikoyi, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Ikorodu, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ojo, and Badagry.
He said many of these projects were being executed without the required approvals, disregarding their impact on the state’s fragile ecosystem.
“While reclamation may provide space for housing and infrastructure, it also poses significant environmental and social risks, including increased flooding, coastal erosion, disruption of livelihoods, especially fishing loss of wetlands and biodiversity, constriction of lagoon capacity, and deterioration of water quality,” he explained.
Given Lagos’ low-lying topography and vulnerability to climate risks, Wahab stressed that the state could no longer allow unchecked reclamation activities that endanger lives, property, and the environment.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable urban development, warning that strict enforcement measures would follow if stakeholders fail to comply.