The Lagos State government has directed the immediate suspension of all reclamation projects across the state without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval and drainage clearance.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, issued this directive.

“All approved reclamation projects must be properly documented and monitored, while ongoing and intended projects must undergo the EIA process and obtain approval and drainage clearance from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

“Failure to comply within seven days will result in the decommissioning of reclaimed sites.

“The government will arrest and prosecute anyone involved in such illegal activities after the warning period.

“The proliferation of reclamation activities on wetlands, floodplains, and the lagoons is of great concern to the state,” Wahab said.

The commissioner identified areas where these acts are prevalent to include Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, other parts of Ikoyi, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Ikorodu, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ojo and the Badagry axis.

He highlighted the adverse impacts on the environment and residents’ safety.

He stressed that indiscriminate reclamation without proper approvals poses significant environmental and social risks, including increased vulnerability to flooding, coastal erosion, disruption of livelihoods, especially fishing, loss of wetlands and biodiversity, constriction of the lagoons and their capacity, and impairment of water quality, among others.

“The fragile ecosystem of Lagos State cannot sustain this uncontrolled reclamation of lagoons, wetlands and floodplains.

“The government is committed to preventing this practice from continuing unchecked,” he added.