The Lagos State Government has issued an immediate suspension of all ongoing and proposed land reclamation projects across the state, citing severe environmental and social risks associated with uncontrolled activities. This move is aimed at mitigating the dangers posed by unauthorized reclamation works on wetlands, floodplains, and lagoon fronts in high-risk areas.
According to the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, many of these projects were being executed without mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approvals or drainage clearances from the ministry. The affected areas include Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Ojo, and Badagry.
The rapid spread of unauthorized reclamation works has raised concerns over 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. Given Lagos’ low-lying terrain and fragile ecosystem, the government has stated that it will 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. A seven-day compliance deadline has been issued, with defaulters facing strict sanctions, including site decommissioning, excavation and removal of illegal fills, reopening of obstructed water channels, as well as arrests and prosecution.
The government’s commitment to protecting the state from avoidable ecological disasters is evident in this decision. With the suspension of land reclamation projects, the state aims to prevent environmental degradation and ensure the safety of its residents. The move is also expected to promote sustainable development and responsible land use practices in the state. As the government works to implement this suspension, residents and stakeholders will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure that the state’s environment and ecosystem are protected.