The Lagos State Government Halts Unbridled Reclamation Projects: A Necessary Intervention for Environmental Sustainability
The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has issued a decisive directive, suspending all reclamation projects across the state. This action stems from the alarming observation that numerous reclamation activities, particularly those impacting wetlands, floodplains, and lagoons, are being carried out without the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approvals and drainage clearances. Reclamation, the process of creating new land from water bodies by filling them with materials like sand, earth, and rock, has become increasingly prevalent in Lagos, driven by the demand for land for housing and infrastructure development. However, this practice carries significant environmental and social risks that necessitate stringent regulation and oversight.
Several high-profile areas within Lagos have witnessed substantial reclamation activities, including upscale residential and commercial districts like Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne in Ikoyi, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, and Ajah. Other areas experiencing this phenomenon include Oworonshoki on the Lagos Mainland, as well as locations within Ikorodu, Ojo, and Badagry. The widespread nature of these projects and the disregard for regulatory procedures have prompted the government’s intervention to avert the potentially disastrous consequences of unchecked reclamation.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, articulated the rationale behind the suspension, emphasizing the inherent risks associated with unregulated reclamation. These risks include increased vulnerability to flooding, coastal erosion, disruption of livelihoods, particularly for fishing communities, loss of valuable wetlands and biodiversity, constriction of lagoons and their capacity, and impairment of water quality. Given Lagos’s low-lying topography and fragile ecosystem, the government recognizes the urgency of curbing indiscriminate reclamation to prevent exacerbating these risks.
The suspension directive mandates all ongoing reclamation projects, regardless of EIA approval status, to be submitted for comprehensive documentation and monitoring. Furthermore, all future reclamation projects must undergo a rigorous EIA process and obtain both an approval letter and drainage clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. This measure aims to ensure that all reclamation activities are thoroughly evaluated for their environmental and social impact before they are permitted to proceed.
The ministry has issued a stern warning to defaulters, emphasizing that failure to comply with the directive within seven days will result in decisive action. This includes the deployment of machinery to decommission illegal reclamation sites, involving excavation and removal of fill, reconnecting blocked water channels, and the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in or found on the site of illegal activities. This underscores the government’s commitment to enforcing the suspension and deterring further unauthorized reclamation.
This suspension is not an outright ban on reclamation but rather a necessary step towards regulating and managing this practice to minimize its negative impact. The Lagos State government acknowledges the need for land development to accommodate the growing population and economic activities. However, it also recognizes the crucial importance of balancing development with environmental sustainability. The directive aims to ensure that all reclamation projects are conducted responsibly, with due consideration for their environmental and social consequences. This approach seeks to achieve a harmonious balance between development imperatives and the preservation of the state’s fragile ecosystem. The government’s decisive action reflects a commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and a recognition that sustainable development requires a careful assessment and mitigation of potential risks associated with land reclamation activities.
