The Lagos State Government has begun steps to demolish 39 buildings in two upscale estates in Eti-Osa Local Government Area over encroachment on the Right of Way of the Ikota River.
This move follows complaints from the public about illegal developments affecting the natural flow of the river.
The buildings are located in Oral Extension Estate and Westend, Mega Mond Estate.
Among the affected structures, 20 will be completely removed, eight will be partially pulled down, and 13 others in Westend Estate are set to go.
Residents of these buildings have been served quit notices without a fixed deadline, giving them time to relocate with their belongings and families.
The demolition action was driven by findings from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources after multiple petitions pointed to serious land encroachments along the Ikota Riverbank.
The ministry’s enforcement team, led by the Commissioner, visited the area and found that despite ongoing discussions with developers, construction activities had continued unlawfully, further pushing back the river’s boundary.
During the inspection, fences were being dismantled as part of preliminary measures to reclaim the river’s right of way.
The team also discovered that some residents had extended beyond approved boundaries, even selling land to unsuspecting buyers.
In some cases, new structures were still under development, worsening the encroachment issues.
Government officials warned developers against carrying out land reclamation projects without proper environmental clearance and drainage approval.
They were instructed to stop all activities and provide the necessary documents to prove compliance.
Failure to meet these requirements could lead to stricter action from the authorities.
