Lagos govt seals illegal reclamation sites, arrests five in Lekki crackdown
The Lagos State Government has stepped up its clampdown on illegal reclamation and dredging activities along the Lagos Lagoon, sealing multiple sites and arresting five suspects during a recent enforcement exercise in Lekki.
The operation was jointly carried out by the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development in partnership with the Ministries of Physical Planning, Environment and Water Resources, and the Lands Bureau.
The coordinated effort targeted unauthorised construction, land reclamation, and environmental violations.
Leading the exercise, Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush Alebiosu, revealed that officials sealed a property at 13A Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1. The site had repeatedly flouted stop-work orders and was found to be illegally reclaiming land while extending its boundaries without approval. He described the owners’ actions as “an act of legendary audacity,” noting their disregard for multiple warnings and government directives.
“This building has been sealed several times by the relevant ministries since last year, yet the owners persist with construction and even host social events in defiance of the law. Today, we are back with the Ministries of Physical Planning and the Environment to enforce compliance,” Alebiosu said.
He added that the government will prosecute the offenders, with possible penalties including forfeiture of the reclaimed land. Sand retrieved from the site, he said, would be redirected for legitimate use.
Commissioner for Physical Planning, Dr Olumide Oluyinka, disclosed that the property was originally approved for 1,200 square meters but had been unlawfully expanded to 8,000 square meters.
“The site has once again been sealed. We will revoke all authorisations connected to this land. Despite the building being incomplete, it has been used for parties, endangering lives. That is unacceptable and why this action is necessary,” Oluyinka explained.
The enforcement team also inspected several locations along the Lekki Foreshore, uncovering numerous illegal dredging and reclamation sites. Five suspects were apprehended, while others fled on sighting officials.
Alebiosu raised concerns about the scale of the illicit operations, noting that none of the dredging activities had submitted mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments, EIA.
“Some dredging extends up to seven kilometres into the lagoon, with no accountability on the volume of sand extracted, which is then diverted for illegal reclamation,” he said, adding that shanties along the lagoon often serve as criminal hideouts. He further reported that a vessel fled the area during the operation.
Lagos govt seals illegal reclamation sites, arrests five in Lekki crackdown
