Lagos Govt issues notices to 69 firms in crackdown on violation of waterfront regulations
…DHL, Farm City, others face legal action for illegal encroachment
By Sodiq Adelakun
In a decisive move to protect its waterfront areas, the Lagos State Government has issued contravention notices to 69 companies, including prominent names such as Farm City and DHL, for encroaching on designated waterfront setbacks in Lekki Phase 1.
The announcement was made via the official X, formerly twitter, account of the Lagos State Government on Wednesday, detailing the companies that received notices for their illegal occupation along Admiralty Way and Wole Olateju Street.
The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Yacoob Ekundayo Alebiosu, clarified that these companies are in violation of the Lagos State Waterfront Law No. 3 of 2009, which is designed to regulate the use of waterfront areas.
“In its continued efforts to sanitise the Lagos State Waterfront corridor, the Lagos State Government served contravention notices on Farm City, Jonah Court, DHL, Polo Avenue, and 65 others for illegally occupying the waterfront setbacks at Lekki Cowrie Creek, These violations infringe upon the established guidelines for sustainable waterfront development,”Alebiosu stated.
The government has directed all affected companies to submit documentation authorising their use of the contested waterfront areas to the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development located at the State Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja.
The statement made it clear that non-compliance with these directives could lead to the sealing or outright demolition of their properties.
This latest enforcement action emphasises an increasing trend of the Lagos State Government cracking down on property owners and occupiers who violate environmental laws.
Recent incidents include the sealing of Maverick Estate in Gbagada for encroaching on designated wetlands, and the issuance of contravention notices to over 280 illegal property owners within the Mayegun Waterfront Scheme in Eti Osa Local Government Area, cited for slum developments and master plan deviations.
