The Lagos State Government has removed car dealers and owners who encroached on wetlands and parts of the Green Line rail corridor from Lekki to Chevron after the expiration of a two-week notice. The enforcement, led by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, followed an inspection aimed at curbing flooding and protecting natural drainage systems in the state. Wahab explained that drone footage revealed widespread encroachment on wetlands originally designed to absorb stormwater, which worsened the flash floods recorded in September.
Wahab said the illegal occupation of wetlands not only blocked drainage channels but also posed a threat to the proposed Green Line Rail Project and nearby power infrastructure. He noted that the government could not allow individuals to build under high-tension cables and other restricted areas, adding that enforcement was necessary after dialogue failed. The commissioner stressed that protecting Lagos’s fragile ecosystem was a top priority, warning that those found reclaiming river channels and obstructing waterways would be prosecuted.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the affected car dealers had initially been granted temporary approval to operate under strict conditions but violated the terms by building permanent structures. He stated that the Green Line project would commence in December and that those who encroached on designated rail and wetland areas must vacate immediately. During the inspection, Wahab also visited Ikota, where he expressed concern over illegal reclamation and construction activities that narrowed the Ikota River.
Wahab reiterated that while flooding cannot be completely eliminated in a coastal state like Lagos, its impact can be reduced through strict environmental planning and proper infrastructure. He said the government was expanding and maintaining drainage systems across the state, including an underground project at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, which is 80 percent complete and expected to ease flooding on Victoria Island. He assured residents that Lagos would continue enforcing environmental laws to protect lives, property, and the city’s ecosystem.
The Lagos State Government has removed car dealers and owners who encroached on wetlands and parts of the Green Line rail corridor from Lekki to Chevron after the expiration of a two-week notice. The enforcement, led by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, followed an inspection aimed at curbing flooding and protecting natural drainage systems in the state. Wahab explained that drone footage revealed widespread encroachment on wetlands originally designed to absorb stormwater, which worsened the flash floods recorded in September.
Wahab said the illegal occupation of wetlands not only blocked drainage channels but also posed a threat to the proposed Green Line Rail Project and nearby power infrastructure. He noted that the government could not allow individuals to build under high-tension cables and other restricted areas, adding that enforcement was necessary after dialogue failed. The commissioner stressed that protecting Lagos’s fragile ecosystem was a top priority, warning that those found reclaiming river channels and obstructing waterways would be prosecuted.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the affected car dealers had initially been granted temporary approval to operate under strict conditions but violated the terms by building permanent structures. He stated that the Green Line project would commence in December and that those who encroached on designated rail and wetland areas must vacate immediately. During the inspection, Wahab also visited Ikota, where he expressed concern over illegal reclamation and construction activities that narrowed the Ikota River.
Wahab reiterated that while flooding cannot be completely eliminated in a coastal state like Lagos, its impact can be reduced through strict environmental planning and proper infrastructure. He said the government was expanding and maintaining drainage systems across the state, including an underground project at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, which is 80 percent complete and expected to ease flooding on Victoria Island. He assured residents that Lagos would continue enforcing environmental laws to protect lives, property, and the city’s ecosystem.
The Lagos State Government has removed car dealers and owners who encroached on wetlands and parts of the Green Line rail corridor from Lekki to Chevron after the expiration of a two-week notice. The enforcement, led by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, followed an inspection aimed at curbing flooding and protecting natural drainage systems in the state. Wahab explained that drone footage revealed widespread encroachment on wetlands originally designed to absorb stormwater, which worsened the flash floods recorded in September.
Wahab said the illegal occupation of wetlands not only blocked drainage channels but also posed a threat to the proposed Green Line Rail Project and nearby power infrastructure. He noted that the government could not allow individuals to build under high-tension cables and other restricted areas, adding that enforcement was necessary after dialogue failed. The commissioner stressed that protecting Lagos’s fragile ecosystem was a top priority, warning that those found reclaiming river channels and obstructing waterways would be prosecuted.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the affected car dealers had initially been granted temporary approval to operate under strict conditions but violated the terms by building permanent structures. He stated that the Green Line project would commence in December and that those who encroached on designated rail and wetland areas must vacate immediately. During the inspection, Wahab also visited Ikota, where he expressed concern over illegal reclamation and construction activities that narrowed the Ikota River.
Wahab reiterated that while flooding cannot be completely eliminated in a coastal state like Lagos, its impact can be reduced through strict environmental planning and proper infrastructure. He said the government was expanding and maintaining drainage systems across the state, including an underground project at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, which is 80 percent complete and expected to ease flooding on Victoria Island. He assured residents that Lagos would continue enforcing environmental laws to protect lives, property, and the city’s ecosystem.
