The Lagos State Government has demolished no fewer than 17 houses for encroaching on the Right of Way (RoW) of the Ikota River alignment.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, led the monitoring team to the site on Saturday alongside journalists, reaffirming the government’s zero tolerance for environmental abuse.
Wahab urged residents to stop actions that harm the ecosystem, warning that nature always retaliates against negligence and unlawful reclamation.
He explained that the ministry had received complaints months ago about illegal reclamation activities narrowing the river’s RoW.
“We stopped them then, but recently, we were alerted that the encroachment had resumed aggressively, with attempts to sell to unsuspecting buyers,” Wahab said.
According to him, the ministry took firm action to stop the encroachment and remove all illegal structures in the area.
He vowed that those behind the activities would be identified and prosecuted according to the law.
On the issue of flooding, the commissioner noted that total prevention was impossible in a coastal state like Lagos, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, lagoons, and rivers.
“What we can do is mitigate its impact through resilient infrastructure, which Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu continues to provide and maintain,” Wahab explained.
He lamented that despite the government’s daily maintenance of drainage systems, some individuals still obstruct waterways for personal gain.
Property No. 156, he said, blocked the coastal road alignment and disrupted natural water flow.
“The property will be cleared to ensure the Ikota channel discharges freely into the Lagos Lagoon,” he said.
Wahab added that demolition was not always the state’s first option, as officials often gave developers the chance to design and fund proper stormwater solutions.
He condemned it as irresponsible for the government to fix problems created by private individuals who profit from violating environmental rules.
During an inspection of the Lekki-Epe corridor, the commissioner also lamented the large-scale encroachment on wetlands that naturally retain excess water during rainfall.
Drone surveillance, he revealed, showed extensive damage to the wetland corridor, where coconut trees initially planted for protection had been destroyed.
Wahab said notices were issued to violators on September 26 in preparation for upcoming transport projects along the route.
The inspection, he added, aimed to align environmental protection with the Ministry of Transport’s Green Line Rail project.
Commissioner for Transport Oluwaseun Osiyemi announced that the Green Line project would begin in December after consultations and feasibility studies.
He noted that some car dealers, who were temporarily permitted to operate under power lines, had violated terms by erecting permanent structures.
“We must enforce compliance and protect the environment while advancing transport development,” Osiyemi said.
The new rail line will run from Marina to Epe and is expected to last about three years as part of an integrated transport solution.
The monitoring team also visited Chevron Gate off Orchid Road, Partibon Homes, Oral Extension Phase 2, and Park View in Ikoyi.
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