Lagos Government Don Suspend All Reclamation Projects Because of Environmental Risk

Lagos State Government don order make dem stop all land reclamation projects wey dey happen for di state sharp-sharp, as dem raise serious concern about di danger wey e fit cause to di environment and to people wey dey live for those areas. Di announcement land through one statement wey Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, post for him official X (Twitter) account on Thursday. According to di statement, di suspension go affect all di reclamation work wey dem don start or plan to start — whether dem get Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval or drainage clearance from di ministry or not. Wahab talk say plenty people just dey reclaim land anyhow for wetlands, floodplains and lagoon areas like Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, Ikorodu, Ojo and Badagry without correct government monitoring or approval. E say, “Di Ministry of Environment and Water Resources don observe with serious concern how land reclamation dey spread anyhow across di state especially for places like Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, parts of Ikoyi, VI Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Ojo and Badagry and many of these people no dey think about how e go affect environment or di safety of people.”

Di statement still talk say, “Because of all this, di Ministry don direct say make all reclamation projects across Lagos State, whether dem get approval or not to stop immediately.” Dem warn say all these illegal sand-filling and land reclamation wey people dey do anyhow fit cause serious flooding, destroy sea coast, spoil people livelihood, reduce animals and plants wey dey there (biodiversity), and even make water dirty or unsafe. Even though reclamation fit help create land for houses and roads, di government still talk say Lagos get fragile environment and low land wey make am risky if dem no manage reclamation well. All di projects wey dem don approve before must now go through proper registration and monitoring. Any new or ongoing project must also get EIA and drainage clearance before dem fit continue. Di Ministry don give seven days deadline to all di people wey dey do reclamation. If dem no comply, dem go send people to scatter illegal sites, open blocked water ways, and carry anybody wey break di law go court.

Di Lagos Government say dis new action na part of di big plan to protect di environment and make sure say everybody wey dey Lagos dey safe and healthy. Dem don dey work hard to stop bad development for coastal areas wey dey prone to flood, erosion and environmental problem. Make we remember say for September 2024, di same Lagos State Government seal Maverick Estate for Gbagada because e encroach on wetland wey dem suppose protect. Dis show say di government serious to stop illegal construction for sensitive areas. All these moves na part of di bigger plan to protect Lagos from environmental problems, especially as real estate development dey grow fast.