FG threatens to demolish illegal structures on Lagos shoreline

The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to developers on the Lagos shoreline, demanding they regularise their projects or face revocation and possible demolition.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Salisu Haiba.

The ultimatum was delivered by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, following his inspection of the Lagos Lagoon Estates and other shoreline fronts on Thursday.

Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, and senior officials from the Ministry, Dangiwa expressed concern over the increasing number of irregular developments on the lagoon’s shoreline.

He said these developments, which include unauthorised land reclamation and building, are taking place without the necessary documentation and approval from the Federal Government.

“There is no room for haphazard developments on the Lagos shoreline. We are working closely with the Lagos State Government to address these anomalies and ensure that all developments are in line with the law,” he said.

The Minister’s inspection tour included a boat trip with officials from the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority to assess the situation firsthand.

During the visit, they observed that some developers had filled parts of the shoreline with sand and begun construction without securing proper titles from the Federal Government, in violation of established regulations.

In a joint agreement with the Lagos State Government, Dangiwa outlined plans for collaborative efforts to regulate development on the shoreline.

According to the Minister, the Federal Government will not tolerate such unlawful actions, and developers have been given a one-month deadline to regularise their projects. Failure to comply will result in revocation and demolition of the illegal structures.

“The Federal Government is in the process of documenting its assets nationwide, and we are particularly focused on ensuring that our shoreline properties are properly regulated,” Dangiwa explained.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development holds the authority to issue titles on the shoreline under the Land (Title Vesting) Act of 1975. Furthermore, the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority is responsible for granting permits for dredging along the shoreline.

On the other hand, the Lagos State Government controls physical development in the area.

Dangiwa also visited several other Federal Government sites in Lagos, including the Ogbogbo Housing Project in Ikorodu and the Ikorodu Low-Cost Housing sites.

The minister’s visit will culminate in a Stakeholder Engagement scheduled for Friday, December 13, 2024, where further discussions will be held on the future of shoreline development in Lagos.