Lagos Government Halts Illegal Reclamation in Lekki, Removes 17 Structures on Ikota River Right of Way

 

The Lagos State Government has sealed off and issued a stop-work order on illegal reclamation activities being carried out around the Ikota River, off Orchid Road, Lekki, warning that it will not tolerate actions that endanger the environment and worsen flooding across the state.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, gave the directive at the weekend during an inspection tour of the area. He said the illegal reclamation at Partibons Homes Estate/Bee-Forth Estate Phase 2 was an attempt by individuals to distort natural water channels for personal gain.

Wahab described the situation as “heart-wrenching,” lamenting that “some people have deliberately chosen to destroy the ecosystem provided by nature.” 

He revealed that the ministry recently received an SOS message about aggressive reclamation and illegal structures being erected on parts of the Ikota River for sale to unsuspecting citizens.

According to him, the government had already demolished 17 buildings encroaching on the Right of Way of the Ikota River alignment within Oral Estate II, noting that several property owners had been earlier engaged to find a “win-win” solution before enforcement began.

“The Ikota River is the only channel that supports the Atlantic in this axis, and it must not be blocked,” Wahab said. 

“These drainage channels discharge into the river and then into the Lagoon. Government will not fold its arms and allow human activities to distort this natural design.”

He stressed that the Sanwo-Olu administration had adopted several flood mitigation strategies, including the continuous maintenance of drainage channels, construction of new primary and secondary collectors, and restoration of wetlands across the state.

Wahab, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, also visited sites along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, where illegal activities by automobile dealers were found to have encroached on wetlands and high-tension zones designated for the forthcoming Green Rail Line project.

Osiyemi explained that the Green Line, which will run from Marina to Epe, will begin construction in December 2025, starting from Lekki First Tollgate to Epe, while the Marina section will be built over water. He said feasibility studies and stakeholder engagements had been completed.

“There is a Right of Way that was established over 20 years ago,” he said. “What we are addressing is encroachment on wetlands and extensions under the power lines.”

Wahab added that wetlands act as natural flood buffers. “They are meant to hold water during rainfall, but many have been degraded,” he noted. 

“Our drone inspections showed that most coconut-planted wetlands along the corridor have been severely bastardized.”

He ordered immediate enforcement to reclaim the wetlands and restore the master plan to accommodate the Green Line development.

The inspection team also visited Agodogba Avenue in Parkview Estate, where construction of a secondary collector drain and pumping station is ongoing. 

The project, Wahab said, would significantly reduce flooding in the area once completed.

Officials on the tour included the Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu: Permanent Secretaries, Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji and that of Drainage Services, Engr Mahamood Adegbite;

Others are MD LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; GM LASPARK, Mrs Adetoun Popoola; GM LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi; GM LASWMO, Engr Adefemi Afolabi and other directors from the Ministry and its Agencies.

The places visited by the team were Wetlands along Lekki - Epe Express way Corridor, System 156, Partibons Homes Estate (Bee - Forth Estate Phase 2 (Ikota River section), Oral Estate 2 and Agodogba Avenue inside the Parkview Estate.