NIGERIA: LASG Begins Crackdown On Illegal Land Reclamation Projects Without EIA Approvals

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

The Lagos State Government has announced that full enforcement action against all land reclamation projects operating without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval and Drainage Clearance will begin on Wednesday, October 16, 2025.

This was made known in a public notice signed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, who said the enforcement follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued by the state government.

According to the Commissioner, the ultimatum was published in The Punch and The Nation newspapers on September 18 and 19, respectively, and expired on September 25, 2025.

Wahab stated: “This is to notify the general public, particularly individuals, developers and corporate bodies engaging in unauthorized land reclamation and waterfront encroachment, that the grace period of seven days for compliance and cessation of illegal reclamation activities has since expired.”

He added that the government’s action is in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 and other environmental regulations.

Wahab noted that enforcement teams would remove all illegal reclamation structures and fillings carried out without statutory EIA and Drainage Clearance Certificates.

He said the government would also seize all reclamation equipment and materials found on prohibited sites and prosecute offenders in accordance with environmental and urban development laws.

The Commissioner cautioned residents against buying or investing in illegally reclaimed lands, stressing that such activities threaten the state’s ecosystem, increase the risk of flooding, and endanger public safety.

“These measures are necessary to protect our environment, prevent flooding, and ensure public safety across Lagos State,” Wahab added.

He further urged developers and members of the public to visit the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Block 16, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, for guidance on obtaining proper EIA approvals and Drainage Clearance before embarking on reclamation projects.

The state government reiterated its commitment to environmental sustainability, warning that it would no longer tolerate any form of illegal reclamation or waterfront encroachment under the A Greater Lagos Rising agenda.