Lagos seals Lekki buildings over illegal reclamation and dredging as officials warn offenders may face prosecution and land forfeiture

Lagos seals Lekki buildings over illegal reclamation in a bold crackdown on unauthorised developments threatening the city’s waterfront ecosystem.

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In a sweeping enforcement operation on Friday, the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, in collaboration with the Ministries of Physical Planning, Environment and Water Resources, and the Lands Bureau, sealed off several sites in Lekki, including a property at 13A Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1.

Leading the exercise, Commissioner Dayo Bush Alebiosu described the illegal activities as acts of “legendary audacity,” highlighting repeated violations despite previous sanctions.

“This particular building has been sealed on multiple occasions since last year. Yet, construction and social events have continued without approval. This shows a blatant disregard for the law,” Alebiosu said.

The Lagos State Government now plans to prosecute the offenders, which could result in forfeiture of the reclaimed land. Recovered sand will be diverted for legal and productive uses, he added.

Commissioner for Physical Planning, Dr Olumide Oluyinka, revealed shocking discrepancies in the site layout.

“The owner originally presented a 1,200 sqm plan, but the current site measures over 8,000 sqm. People are already hosting parties on an incomplete, unapproved site,” he said.

The enforcement team also discovered extensive illegal dredging and reclamation activities along the Lekki foreshore, sealing multiple sites.

Five suspects were arrested while others fled upon sighting government officials.

Alebiosu lamented the scale of illegal operations, pointing out that some dredging stretches 7km into the lagoon, carried out without Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) or records of sand extraction.

He also raised concern over the proliferation of shanties that serve as cover for criminal activities. One vessel reportedly fled the scene as the team approached.

Permanent Secretary for Drainage Services, Mahmood Adegbite, confirmed that three water channels into the lagoon have been blocked, posing serious threats to the local ecosystem.

His counterpart in the Ministry of Environment, Mobolaji Gaji, warned that illegal operators have disrupted primary drainage systems, risking environmental disaster.

Dr Oluyinka emphasised the collaborative nature of the enforcement, noting it was a direct outcome of the recent Waterfront Summit, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu pledged to intensify the fight against illegal reclamation and dredging, as part of the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Development Agenda.

The enforcement team also visited Ilubirin housing projects to assess activities around the waterfront.

Alebiosu reaffirmed that Lagos would not relent in its duty to protect its natural resources: “We will continue to enforce the law, protect our lagoons, and ensure that offenders face the full weight of justice.”

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Other officials present included Lolade Ajetumobi (Lands Bureau), Major Olaniyi Cole (Rtd) of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), and other senior government functionaries.