The Lagos State Government will on Wednesday commence a sweeping crackdown on illegal land reclamation and waterfront encroachment across the state, following the expiration of a compliance ultimatum issued last month.
This was announced in a statement released on Monday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab. According to Wahab, the state has exhausted all grace periods and is now set to enforce environmental laws strictly to restore order and protect the state’s coastline.
“It has become imperative to notify the general public, particularly individuals, developers, and corporate bodies engaging in unauthorised land reclamation and waterfront encroachment, that the grace period for compliance has expired,” Wahab stated.
The commissioner said the enforcement will begin immediately after the seven-day ultimatum issued through public notices in The PUNCH and The Nation newspapers in September. He added that the final window for compliance closed on September 25, leaving the government with no option but to take decisive action.
In accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017, Wahab said the government would demolish all illegal reclamation structures without statutory Environmental Impact Assessments or Drainage Clearance Certificates.
He added that reclamation equipment found on prohibited sites would be seized and offenders prosecuted under existing urban development laws.
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“These measures are essential to protect the environment, prevent flooding, and ensure public safety,” the commissioner explained. “Enough is enough. The government will no longer tolerate actions that endanger lives and disrupt the natural ecosystem.”
Wahab also cautioned residents against buying or developing properties on illegally reclaimed land, warning that such investments could lead to serious losses when enforcement begins.
He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to protecting wetlands, floodplains, and lagoon corridors which act as vital buffers against flooding.
Earlier reports from PUNCH Online had revealed that the Lagos government ordered the suspension of all land reclamation projects due to the increasing environmental risks they pose.
Wahab reiterated that non-compliance will attract sanctions, including demolition of illegal sites and arrest of offenders.
He concluded by urging Lagosians to cooperate with the government’s environmental initiatives and report suspicious reclamation activities to relevant authorities. “Our goal is to create a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Lagos for all,” Wahab said.
