Lagos to demolish 39 buildings in Eti-Osa over drainage encroachment

The Lagos state government has marked 39 buildings in Eti-Osa local government area for demolition over encroachment on the Right of Way (RoW) of Ikota Riverbank.

Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, made this known during a drainage enforcement inspection visit to the Ikota River on Thursday.

Wahab said the buildings located within Oral Extension Estate and Westend, Megamound Estate in the Lekki axis, were constructed on the RoW and had to be removed to prevent further environmental degradation.

He disclosed that 18 of the buildings are set for total demolition, eight will be partially removed, and 13 others are slated for complete removal.

“We received several complaints. We have been on this for a while,” he said.

“We 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.

“So, we had a digital footprint of the situation of things, and we had to come there today. What we met on the ground is not good at all.”

He said the ministry had mapped the encroachments digitally and found that the situation on the ground was worse than previously observed during a visit to Oral Estate last year.

The commissioner criticised developers who continued building while simultaneously engaging government in negotiations for a resolution.

Wahab acknowledged the emotional toll on tenants but maintained that environmental protection must remain the government’s priority.

“We need to keep telling our people. You don’t put money over humanity. What they are doing is about self-interest, and it’s painful,” he said.

“For some of those who developed those places, I am going to keep telling them that this is not going to work.”

Wahab said demolition equipment had been mobilised and wall structures would be pulled back from the encroached areas.

He stressed the need for developers to present proper drainage clearance and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents, warning that continued violations would attract sanctions.

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

“At Westend Estate, eight buildings are marked for demolition. We will come back and see how far we’ve gone.”