LAGOS, Nigeria — Lagos State Government don mark 39 buildings for demolition for Eti-Osa Local Government Area due to encroachment on the Right of Way (RoW) of Ikota Riverbank. Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclose this during a drainage enforcement inspection on Thursday.
The affected buildings dey for Oral Extension Estate and Westend, Mega Mond Estate for Lekki area. Dis demolition order come after series of complaints and petitions from residents about developers wey dey build for the RoW of the river. Wahab don issue indefinite quit notices to the occupants, make dem relocate their belongings and families before the demolition starts.
According to the government, 20 buildings dey set for complete demolition, while eight buildings go face partial removal, and 13 buildings for Westend Estate go also chop demolition. Wahab lead officials from the ministry to inspect the estates, where dem dey dismantle parts of the perimeter fences of the structures wey dey face demolition.
“We’ve received numerous complaints about encroachment along the Ikota River. Despite our efforts to engage and find a balanced solution, developers continued to build further into the river’s RoW,” Wahab talk. He add, “We conducted digital mapping of the area and what we saw on ground was alarming. Some developers had not only ignored regulations but intensified construction activities.”
Wahab also emphasize the need to protect lives and the environment as dem begin the demolitions. “We’ve allowed residents time to relocate, especially families with school-age children. In the meantime, we’ve begun pulling back fences and halting further encroachment,” he explain.
For Mega Mond Estate, Wahab warn against unauthorised land reclamation activities. “Before any reclamation, developers must secure drainage clearance and conduct environmental impact assessments. Anything short of this threatens the ecosystem and residents,” he declare. He also add that all ongoing works for the estate must stop immediately.
“They’ve pushed sand beyond the approved limit into the RoW. We’ve ordered them to reverse this and submit relevant documentation. If they fail to comply, we won’t hesitate to take decisive action,” Wahab continue. He clarify say, “We have about 18 structures on the first stretch, roughly 13 beyond the canal, and eight more in Westend. Some of these are extensions or auxiliary structures behind main buildings.”
As Lagos dey try to balance development and environmental protection, Wahab express concern for the actions of some developers. “We need to keep telling our people. You don’t put money over humanity. What they are doing is about self-interest, and it’s painful,” he explain. He also call for a cooperative effort between the government and developers to find a sustainable way to address these encroachments while minimizing the impact on residents.
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