The Lagos State Government has ordered an immediate suspension of all ongoing and proposed land reclamation projects across the state, citing severe environmental threats including heightened flooding, coastal erosion, and ecosystem damage in the low-lying coastal megacity.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab announced the directive in a statement on Thursday, expressing alarm over the unchecked spread of reclamation activities on wetlands, floodplains, and lagoons.

High-risk areas affected include Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, Ikoyi, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Ojo, and Badagry.

"Enough is enough," - Wahab  

Many projects lack required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approvals and drainage clearances, exacerbating vulnerabilities in Lagos's fragile ecosystem.

While acknowledging reclamation's role in urban expansion for housing and infrastructure, Wahab warned of its downsides: disruption to fishing communities' livelihoods, biodiversity loss, reduced lagoon capacity, and degraded water quality. "Lagos’s low-lying topography and fragile ecosystem cannot withstand indiscriminate reclamation activities without grave consequences," he stated.

The order applies universally, regardless of prior approvals. Approved projects must submit for documentation and monitoring, while new or ongoing ones require full EIA processes and ministry clearance before resuming.

Developers have seven days to comply, after which the ministry will enforce sanctions, including site decommissioning—such as excavating fills and restoring blocked channels—arrests, and prosecutions. "Enough is enough," - Wahab