LASG declares stop-order to illegal land extension in Banana Island
…Defaulters to face criminal charges
By Moses Adeniyi
Concerned members of the public, who defy a new order issued by the Lagos State Government suspending all approvals in respect to land extensions into the Lagoon at Banana Island and Osborne Foreshore, Ikoyi, risk facing criminal charges and confiscation of their dredging equipment by the State Government, Nigerian NewsDirect has learnt.
It was gathered according to a statement jointly signed by the State’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako and his counterpart in the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Arc. Kabiru Ahmed Abdullahi, that the State Government had noticed the increasing and continuing degradation of the Lagos shoreline as a result of indiscriminate illegal dredging, reclamation and land extensions into the Lagos Lagoon.
The statement released over the weekend, partly read that “of particular concern to the State Government are the extensions being illegally carried out at Banana Island and Osborne Foreshore, Ikoyi.”
The statement added that such land reclamation and extension activities had resulted in gross violations of the Physical Planning Laws of the State and impinged on the ecosystem of the entire area.
The Commissioners stated further that the indiscriminate illegal proliferation of dredging and reclamation practices had brought about serious distortion in the aesthetics of the shoreline with high potential for causing environmental degradation, which is capable of producing dire consequences if unchecked.
The joint statement further declared that: “Government hereby suspends all existing, pending and subsequent approvals in respect of all Land Extensions into the Lagoon at Banana Island and Osborne Foreshore, Ikoyi.”
According to the directive, the State Government also ordered the immediate cessation of all ongoing works, constructions, reclamations and other similar activities on account of extension approvals granted or being processed at Banana Island and Osborne Foreshore, Ikoyi.
In compliance, members of the public have been urged to forthwith abide by the Stop Work/Suspension Orders or risk facing criminal charges and the confiscation of their dredging equipment by the Lagos State Government.
