The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of all land reclamation projects across the state, whether or not they have obtained Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval and drainage clearance.
According to Nigerian Tribune, the directive was issued in a statement personally signed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.
According to Wahab, all previously approved reclamation projects must be resubmitted to the ministry for proper documentation and monitoring. He further stated that all ongoing and proposed reclamation activities must undergo a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, with approvals and drainage clearance issued by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources before any continuation.
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He warned that failure to comply with the directive within seven days would force the ministry to decommission reclaimed sites. “Failure to comply with this directive within the next 7 DAYS will leave the ministry with no other option than to deploy appropriate machineries to decommission the reclaimed sites including excavation and removal of fill and reconnecting of already blocked water channels on the Lagoon, amongst others,” Wahab said.
The commissioner further cautioned that the state government would arrest and prosecute individuals found carrying out or participating in such activities after the expiration of the seven-day notice.
Expressing concern over the increasing number of reclamation activities, Wahab identified wetlands, floodplains and lagoons across the state as areas being recklessly exploited. He listed locations where such activities are common, including Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, parts of Ikoyi, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Ikorodu, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ojo, and the Badagry axis.
He stressed that many of these projects are being executed without the mandatory EIA approval and drainage clearance from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
“While reclamation may provide space for housing and infrastructure redevelopment, it also poses significant environmental and social risks including increased vulnerability to flooding, coastal erosion, disruption of livelihood (especially fishing), loss of wetlands and biodiversity, constriction of the Lagoons and their capacity, impairment of water quality amongst others,” he explained.
Highlighting Lagos’ low-lying topography and fragile ecosystem, Wahab said the state government can not permit the indiscriminate reclamation of lagoons, wetlands, and floodplains to continue unchecked.
