The Lagos State Government has announced that it will begin full enforcement action against all land reclamation activities across the state that do not have the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Approvals and Drainage Clearance, starting from Wednesday, October 16, 2025.
This was made known in a Public Notice issued by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, who stated that the enforcement follows the expiration of a seven-day compliance ultimatum earlier issued by the state government.
According to Wahab, the ultimatum—announced through public notices published in The Punch and The Nation newspapers on September 18 and 19 respectively—expired on September 25, 2025, marking the end of the grace period for illegal developers to cease unauthorized activities.
“This is to notify the general public, particularly individuals, developers, and corporate bodies engaging in unauthorized land reclamation and waterfront encroachment, that the SEVEN-DAY grace period for compliance has expired,” the Commissioner stated.
In line with the provisions of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, and other relevant environmental and urban development regulations, the government will now proceed with enforcement measures, which include:
• Immediate removal of all illegal reclamation structures and landfill activities lacking statutory EIA and Drainage Clearance.
• Seizure of reclamation equipment and materials found on non-compliant or prohibited sites.
• Prosecution of offenders in accordance with existing environmental and urban development laws.
Wahab further warned members of the public against patronizing or purchasing land from unapproved reclamation operators, stressing that such activities pose serious environmental risks, particularly related to flooding and public safety.
He urged all developers and interested parties to visit the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources at Block 16, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, to obtain proper guidance on securing the necessary EIA and Drainage Clearance documentation.
The enforcement action, he emphasized, is part of the state’s broader commitment to sustainable urban planning, environmental protection, and public safety
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