Lagos Govt Marks 39 Buildings for Demolition Over River Encroachment in Lekki

 

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to demolish 39 buildings in two upscale estates located in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, due to encroachment on the Right of Way (RoW) of the Ikota Riverbank. This area falls within the Maroko Okun Alfa ward along the Lekki axis.

This was revealed on Wednesday, May 8, by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during the removal of fences around some of the affected buildings. The properties are located in Oral Extension Estate and Westend, Mega Mond Estate.

Out of the 39 buildings:

• 20 are scheduled for total demolition

• 8 will undergo partial removal

• 13 buildings at Westend Estate will also be completely demolished

The government has already issued indefinite quit notices to the residents, advising them to vacate the premises and move their belongings ahead of the demolition exercise.

Why the Government Is Demolishing the Buildings

Wahab explained that the action was triggered by several petitions from the public, reporting illegal construction and encroachment along the Ikota River.

“We received several complaints. We have been on this for a while and found out at the ministry level that while we were engaging to find a win-win solution that would mitigate environmental impact without heavily affecting the residents, some developers continued pushing back the RoW and altering the alignment of the Ikota River,” Wahab said.

According to him, digital mapping and assessments confirmed that developers had severely violated the river's Right of Way.

“What we found on the ground was not good at all. We decided to allow residents to move their belongings, considering they are family people with children in school,” he added.

Developers Ignored Warnings

Wahab noted that the government had previously visited Oral Estate, but the current level of encroachment is much worse. He accused some developers of continuing to build while pretending to cooperate with the government.

“We called in the machines, dismantled walls, and pushed back from further encroachment. We also visited Westend and Mega Mount, where we saw reclamation activities beyond the approved limits,” he said.

He stressed the importance of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and proper drainage planning before any land reclamation project.

“We have asked them to stop, push back the sand, and submit the necessary documents. If they don’t comply, we will wield the big stick,” Wahab warned.

Breakdown of Affected Buildings

• 18 buildings are located along the first stretch of the encroached land

• 13 buildings are situated beyond the canal

• 8 buildings in Westend Estate are also marked for demolition

Wahab also raised concerns about developers selling illegally constructed properties and issuing titles to unsuspecting buyers, putting innocent families at risk.