Lagos Govt Rolls Out Tough Sanctions To Curb Illegal Land Reclamation

The Lagos State government said it would develop a sweeping policy mandating the forfeiture of illegally reclaimed land to the government, alongside other stiff financial penalties, to protect its fragile coastal and waterfront ecosystems.

The new directive, approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was revealed by the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Dayo Bush Alebiosu, during a guest appearance on TVC’s Your View in the build-up to the last 2025 World Oceans Day.

According to the Commissioner, any unauthorised reclamation, particularly activities that encroach on or narrow the state’s waterways, will automatically forfeit half of the land to the Lagos State government. In addition, violators will be subjected to heavy penalties calculated at open market value.

Alebiosu also disclosed that his ministry is working assiduously with the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and the eGIS office to monitor our waterways, ensure safety, and monitor all illegal activities on the waters, including illegal dredging and reclamation.

He said, “This is not just policy on paper; it’s an active deterrent. We want to stop the tide of illegal reclamation threatening our marine life, obstructing navigation and damaging the environment.

“We are working with some of the MDAs we handshake, especially the ICT ministry and the eGIS team, to patrol our waterways from the office. Some of these illegal activities are perpetrated when everyone has gone to sleep. Not only that, we can’t be on water 24/7, but with this new technology, we can monitor what is happening in our various offices.”

He described the lagoon as a physical landmark and a vital part of Lagos’ lifeblood, saying, “We live on the lagoon. It feeds us seafood, fresh fish, and water from our boreholes. But there’s been a tendency to abuse it: illegal dredging, dumping, reckless reclamation. When we disturb the lagoon, nature fights back.”

Alebiosu warned that those who continue to flout regulations will face consequences, saying, “Some still challenge government authority, but we are not relenting. We are monitoring constantly — by boat and by road. Since I became Commissioner, we have not stopped enforcement.”

He also explained the ecological toll of human interference, noting that disruptions to the aquatic environment displace microorganisms that sustain fish populations, leading to reduced catch and rising food prices.