The Lagos State Government has intensified its crackdown on illegal land reclamation and dredging activities along the Lagos Lagoon, sealing several sites and arresting five suspects during a recent enforcement operation in Lekki.
According to Daily Post, the coordinated exercise was led by the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development in collaboration with the Ministries of Physical Planning, Environment and Water Resources, as well as the Lands Bureau.
The operation specifically targeted unauthorised construction, illegal land reclamation, and environmental infractions in the area.
Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush Alebiosu, who led the exercise, disclosed that officials sealed a property located at 13A Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1. The site, he revealed, had repeatedly ignored government stop-work orders and was engaged in unlawful reclamation by extending its boundaries without official approval.
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Describing the situation as “an act of legendary audacity,” Alebiosu criticised the property owners for consistently disregarding government warnings and directives.
“This building has been sealed several times by the relevant ministries since last year, yet the owners persist with construction and even host social events in defiance of the law. Today, we are back with the Ministries of Physical Planning and the Environment to enforce compliance,” he stated.
Alebiosu further noted that the government would prosecute the offenders, adding that penalties could include the forfeiture of the illegally reclaimed land. He also mentioned that sand retrieved from the site would be redirected for legitimate public use.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Dr. Olumide Oluyinka, disclosed that the property was originally approved for development on a 1,200-square-meter plot but had been unlawfully expanded to 8,000 square meters.
“The site has once again been sealed. We will revoke all authorisations connected to this land. Despite the building being incomplete, it has been used for parties, endangering lives. That is unacceptable and why this action is necessary,” Oluyinka said.
The enforcement team also visited several locations along the Lekki Foreshore, where they uncovered numerous illegal dredging and reclamation sites. Five suspects were apprehended during the operation, while several others fled upon sighting the officials.
Expressing concern over the scale of the illicit activities, Alebiosu revealed that none of the operators had submitted the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).
“Some dredging extends up to seven kilometres into the lagoon, with no accountability on the volume of sand extracted, which is then diverted for illegal reclamation,” he said, adding that shanties erected along the lagoon often serve as hideouts for criminal activities.
He further reported that a vessel involved in the illegal operations fled the area as soon as the enforcement team arrived.
The Lagos State Government has vowed to sustain the crackdown to protect the environment, safeguard lives, and restore order along the Lagos Lagoon corridor.
The post Lagos Govt Intensifies Crackdown On Illegal Land Reclamation, Dredging In Lekki, Seals Sites, Arrests Five Suspects appeared first on Information Nigeria.
