Lagos Gov’t demolishes 17 houses in Lekki
The Lagos State Government has demolished no fewer than 17 houses for encroaching on the Right of Way (RoW) of the Ikota River alignment in Lekki.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, led a monitoring team alongside journalists to the site on Saturday, where he warned that nature would always retaliate against human negligence and illegal reclamation.
Mr Wahab said the ministry had earlier stopped the encroachment months ago after receiving reports of attempts to narrow the river’s path but was forced to act again after the illegal development resumed.
He said: “We were alerted that the encroachment had resumed aggressively, with attempts to sell to unsuspecting buyers. We have now taken firm action to stop the illegality and remove all structures on the river’s alignment.”
He added that those responsible would be identified and prosecuted according to the law.
On the state’s flood control efforts, Mr Wahab said total prevention of flooding was impossible in a coastal city like Lagos, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and lagoons.
“What we can do is mitigate its impact through resilient infrastructure, which Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continued to provide and maintain,” he explained.
He cited property No. 156 as an example of obstruction to natural water flow, saying it blocked the coastal road alignment and would be cleared to ensure the Ikota channel discharges freely into the Lagos Lagoon.
Mr Wahab maintained that demolition was never the state’s first resort, noting that developers were sometimes directed to produce practical stormwater discharge designs at their own cost.
“It is irresponsible for government to fix problems created by private individuals who profit from violating environmental laws,” he said.
During an inspection of the Lekki-Epe corridor, the commissioner lamented the large-scale destruction of wetlands meant to retain excess rainwater.
He disclosed that drone surveillance had shown extensive damage to the corridor where coconut trees initially planted had been destroyed.
He said violators were issued notices on September 26, ahead of upcoming transport infrastructure works.
Commissioner for Transport, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, announced that the Green Line Rail Project, stretching from Marina to Epe, would commence in December after stakeholder consultations and feasibility studies.
He revealed that some car dealers granted temporary approval to occupy power line spaces had breached terms by erecting permanent structures on wetlands.
“As a state, we must enforce compliance and protect the environment while developing modern transport systems,” Mr Osiyemi said.
The three-year rail project, he added, would operate as an integrated transport system connecting major parts of Lagos.
Other locations visited included Chevron Gate off Orchid Road, Partibon Homes, Oral Extension Phase 2, and Park View in Ikoyi.