Tokunbo Wahab leads demolition of 17 illegal buildings in Lekki, vowing to prosecute those behind land reclamation near the Ikota River

Tokunbo Wahab has led a decisive demolition exercise in Lekki, bringing down at least 17 illegal buildings encroaching on the right-of-way of the Ikota River alignment.

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The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources described the move as essential to protecting the city’s natural waterways and preventing future flooding.

The enforcement, carried out on Saturday, comes just two weeks after the state government demolished 19 similar structures at the Trade Fair Complex.

Wahab, who supervised the operation alongside journalists and ministry officials, said the action followed multiple reports of illegal land reclamation and sales in the area.

According to him, certain developers had resumed aggressive reclamation activities despite previous warnings, even attempting to sell reclaimed plots to unsuspecting buyers.

He warned that all perpetrators involved would be identified and prosecuted.

“People must understand that the right-of-way of our rivers and drainage systems cannot be converted into private property,” Wahab said.

“We will not allow reckless development that puts lives and infrastructure at risk.”

The commissioner stressed that while Lagos, being a coastal city bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and lagoons, could not completely eliminate flooding, the state remained committed to reducing its impact through sustainable and resilient infrastructure a cornerstone of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

During the inspection, Wahab identified Property No. 156 as one of the major obstructions blocking the coastal road alignment and the free flow of water into the Ikota channel, which connects directly to the Lagos Lagoon.

He confirmed that the property would be cleared to restore the natural drainage pathway.

Further drone surveillance conducted by the ministry revealed significant encroachment on designated wetlands within the Lekki–Epe corridor.

Wahab lamented the destruction of coconut trees originally planted to stabilise soil and prevent erosion, calling the environmental damage “alarming and deeply irresponsible.”

He noted that official notices had been issued to violators on September 26, ahead of the government’s planned commencement of new transport infrastructure projects in the area, including the much-anticipated Green Line Rail.

Joining the visit, Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi confirmed that the Green Line, linking Marina to Epe, would commence in December following stakeholder consultations.

He revealed that some car dealers granted temporary permits had violated their approval terms by erecting permanent structures on wetlands.

“As a responsible government, we must enforce compliance and protect our environment while promoting transport development,” Osiyemi stated, assuring that the Green Line would be completed within three years as part of Lagos’ integrated transport system.

Other areas inspected by the monitoring team included Chevron Gate off Orchid Road, Partibon Homes, Oral Extension Phase 2, and Park View, Ikoyi.

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Despite the disruption caused by the demolitions, Wahab maintained that the state’s ultimate goal was to safeguard lives, preserve natural drainage routes, and prevent the devastating consequences of unchecked urban encroachment.