The Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources has ordered the immediate suspension of all reclamation projects across the state, citing serious environmental and social risks.
Reclamation projects involve creating new usable land from water-covered areas by filling them with sand, earth, rock, or other materials, often for construction purposes. However, many such projects in Lagos including Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne in Ikoyi, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Ojo, and Badagry are reportedly proceeding without the necessary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approvals and drainage clearances.
Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement signed on Thursday, emphasized the dangers of unregulated reclamation.
“While reclamation may provide space for housing and infrastructure development, it also poses significant environmental and social risks, including increased vulnerability to flooding, coastal erosion, disruption of livelihoods (especially fishing), loss of wetlands and biodiversity, constriction of lagoons and their capacity, and impairment of water quality,” Wahab said.
He added,
“With the low-lying topography of the State and its fragile ecosystem, the State Government cannot afford to allow this indiscriminate reclamation of lagoons, wetlands, and floodplains to continue unabated.”
The Ministry has directed that all reclamation projects approved or otherwise be suspended immediately. Approved projects must undergo proper documentation and monitoring, while ongoing or planned projects must complete the Environmental Impact Assessment process and obtain official approval and drainage clearance from the Ministry.
Failure to comply within seven days will prompt the Ministry to deploy machinery to decommission illegal sites, including excavation and removal of fill, reconnecting blocked water channels, and arresting and prosecuting violators.