The Lagos State government has identified close to forty buildings in two upscale estates for demolition due to their placement on the Right of Way (RoW) of the Ikota River, situated in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area. Ikota is part of the Maroko Okun Alfa Ward in the Lekki region.
In preparation for the demolition, the state has issued indefinite eviction notices to the residents of these buildings, allowing them time to relocate their belongings and families. The properties affected include those in Oral Extension Estate, Westend, and Megamound Estate. Specifically, 20 buildings are slated for complete demolition, eight for partial demolition, and 13 in Westend Estate.
An enforcement team from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has begun preliminary demolition activities, starting with the fences of some of the marked buildings. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, who led the team, explained that the government took action following numerous complaints regarding encroachments on the Ikota River.
Wahab stated, “We have received several complaints and have been investigating this issue for some time. While we were trying to engage the stakeholders to find a mutually beneficial solution that minimizes environmental impact, we discovered that some developments were further encroaching on the RoW and altering the alignment of the Ikota River.”
He continued, “Our findings on-site were concerning. We have communicated these issues to the residents. We have previously visited Oral Estate, and the changes from last year to now are significant. It indicates that while discussions were ongoing to redesign some of the primary alignments and secondary collectors, encroachments continued, which is detrimental to all parties involved. Thus, we have deployed machinery to remove the walls and prevent further encroachment.”
The commissioner also addressed the reclamation activities observed in Megamound Estate, emphasizing the necessity of obtaining proper drainage clearance and environmental impact assessments before any reclamation work begins. “We have instructed them to halt their work and to provide us with all relevant documentation, assuring compliance,” he said.
Regarding the buildings impacted, Wahab detailed, “In the initial stretch, there are about 18 buildings, with an additional 13 behind the main structures at Oral, and around eight at Westend. We aim to engage with the residents, as many innocent buyers are being affected. It’s important to minimize disruption in their lives while addressing these violations.”
He added that although the residents acknowledge the issues, they are requesting time to find a resolution, emphasizing the need for cooperation moving forward.
