Lagos demolishes buildings blocking Ikota drainage

...insists adequate notice was given to residents

The Lagos State Government has demolished several duplexes and other high value properties along the Ikota River in Eti Osa Local Government Area, citing violations of urban planning laws and obstruction of natural drainage channels.

The demolition, which intensified on Tuesday, September 30, was carried out by operatives of the Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Department under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Videos shared online by affected residents showed bulldozers pulling down buildings reportedly worth millions of naira.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the operation, saying it was part of measures to address perennial flooding in the Lekki Ikota corridor.

“Operatives commenced the removal of contravening structures blocking the free flow of stormwater along Ikota River alignment, Lekki, Eti Osa, to prevent perennial flooding in the area,” Wahab said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Wahaab also defended the ongoing demolition of illegal structures in the Ikota area of Lekki, asserting that the enforcement is solely a crucial measure to combat severe flooding and is "not targeted at any tribe or group."

The government's position, disseminated via a public statement, clarifies that the buildings being removed were erected directly on the right-of-way of the Ikota River, thereby obstructing natural channels and worsening flash flooding along the Lekki-Ajah corridor.

According to the statement, the enforcement is the result of a long process. The government confirmed that it had inspected the Ikota River setback alignment and issued removal notices to affected homeowners earlier in 2025.
"The truth is simple: water and hazards know no tribe, colour, or race," the statement read, adding that only structures obstructing the defined drainage systems (System 156, 157, 44, 44A, and 46) are being cleared.

The core goal of the exercise is to "restore the waterways, reduce flooding, and protect lives" across the area, which has recently experienced severe inundation.

While acknowledging the challenge, the government stressed that non-compliance with environmental laws would not be overlooked, emphasizing that the issue is about safeguarding all residents, not targeting any specific community.

The statement concluded with a call for collective support, noting that the recent flooding on the Island underscores the need for permanent solutions.

It urged residents to refrain from attacking the government for implementing necessary solutions to problems they frequently complain about, signing off with the state’s key slogans:

The Ikota demolitions follow similar exercises earlier in Ogudu GRA and other parts of the state, where the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) began removing structures erected on drainage paths after the amnesty window closed.