The Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MOE&WR) has announced the immediate suspension of all reclamation projects across the state, whether or not they have Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval or drainage clearance.
The Ministry expressed grave concern over the rising proliferation of reclamation activities on wetlands, floodplains, and lagoons—particularly in Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Ojo, and Badagry.
According to the statement, many of these projects are being executed without the required EIA approvals and drainage clearances, posing severe environmental and social risks. These risks include:
• Increased vulnerability to flooding and coastal erosion
• Disruption of livelihoods, especially fishing
• Loss of wetlands and biodiversity
• Constriction of lagoon capacity and flow
• Impairment of water quality
The government stressed that given Lagos’s low-lying topography and fragile ecosystem, it cannot allow unregulated reclamation to continue unchecked.
New Directives
• All reclamation projects (approved or not) are suspended immediately.
• Approved projects must be resubmitted for proper documentation and monitoring.
• Ongoing and proposed projects must undergo the full EIA process with formal approval and drainage clearance from the Ministry.
The Ministry warned that failure to comply within seven (7) days will trigger enforcement actions, including:
• Decommissioning of reclaimed sites
• Excavation and removal of illegal fill
• Reconnection of blocked lagoon channels
• Arrest and prosecution of violators
The directive underscores Lagos State’s commitment to safeguarding its environment and protecting residents from the dangers of uncontrolled land reclamation.