Lagos Government Demolishes 17 Illegal Houses in Ikota, Vows Prosecution of Developers

The Lagos State Government has demolished 17 houses illegally constructed on the Right of Way (RoW) of the Ikota River alignment in the Lekki area, reaffirming its commitment to enforcing environmental laws and prosecuting violators.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, led a monitoring and enforcement team — accompanied by journalists — to the site on Saturday. Wahab warned residents and developers against encroaching on natural water channels, noting that such activities contribute to flooding and environmental degradation across the state.

He revealed that the ministry had earlier halted illegal reclamation works in the area but received fresh reports that the encroachment had resumed, with developers attempting to sell reclaimed plots to unsuspecting buyers. “We stopped them then, but we were alerted again recently that the encroachment had resumed aggressively,” Wahab said.

Recovered evidence from the site showed active sand-filling operations and half-completed structures directly obstructing the river’s flow. The commissioner condemned the practice, warning that “nature would always retaliate against human negligence and unlawful reclamation.”

Wahab explained that the demolition exercise is part of a broader effort to reclaim flood-prone areas and restore natural waterways. He emphasized that Lagos, as a coastal city surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, lagoons, and rivers, cannot entirely eliminate flooding but can mitigate its effects through resilient infrastructure. “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continued to invest in projects that strengthen the city’s flood resilience,” he added.

He identified property No. 156 as a major obstruction to the Ikota channel and said it would be completely cleared to allow free stormwater discharge into the Lagos Lagoon. Wahab stressed that demolition was not the government’s first option but became necessary after repeated warnings were ignored. “It is irresponsible for the government to fix problems created by private individuals who profit from violating environmental regulations,” he said.

During an inspection of the Lekki–Epe corridor, Wahab decried widespread encroachment on wetlands, which naturally absorb excess rainwater. Drone surveillance, he said, revealed extensive destruction of coconut trees originally planted to stabilise the soil. Enforcement notices were issued to offenders on September 26, ahead of the planned transport infrastructure works along the route.

The exercise, Wahab noted, aligns with ongoing environmental protection measures and the Ministry of Transport’s Green Line Rail Project. Commissioner for Transport, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, who joined the inspection, said the Green Line — running from Marina to Epe — is set to commence in December 2025 following stakeholder consultations and feasibility studies.

Osiyemi added that some car dealers who were granted temporary permits to occupy power line spaces had violated the terms by erecting permanent structures on wetlands. “As a state, we must enforce compliance and protect the environment while advancing transport development,” he said.

The inspection team also visited Chevron Gate off Orchid Road, Partibon Homes, Oral Extension Phase 2, and Park View in Ikoyi, where additional environmental violations were recorded.