The Federal Government has issued a strong and urgent warning to developers operating along the Lagos shoreline, giving them a strict deadline of one month to regularise their illegal projects or face revocation of approvals and possible demolition. This bold action is part of the government's efforts to address irregular and unauthorized development activities along the Lagos shoreline and to ensure proper compliance with the law.
The ultimatum was made public in a statement released on Thursday by Salisu Haiba, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. It was delivered during a site inspection by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, at the Lagos Lagoon Estates and various other shoreline development projects.
During the inspection, the Minister was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Together, they observed the alarming rise in irregular and unauthorized development projects along the shoreline of Lagos Lagoon, which have sparked growing concerns about environmental degradation and violations of land use regulations.
The Minister expressed his concern over the increasing trend of unauthorized land reclamation and construction activities that have been carried out without the proper documentation, land titles, or approval from the Federal Government. He emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing these issues, saying, “There is no room for haphazard developments on the Lagos shoreline. We are working closely with the Lagos State Government to tackle these irregularities and ensure that all developments follow the correct legal processes.”
As part of his inspection, Minister Dangiwa took a boat tour along the Lagos Lagoon with officials from the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). The tour allowed them to witness firsthand the scale of the irregularities, including areas where developers had reclaimed land and begun construction without securing the necessary titles, permits, or environmental clearances. This situation, according to the Minister, is a clear violation of federal regulations governing land use and shoreline development.
In response to these findings, Dangiwa announced that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, would implement stricter oversight measures to ensure proper regulation of shoreline development. Developers have now been given a one-month ultimatum to rectify their unauthorized projects and bring them into compliance with the law. Failure to do so will result in revocation of permits and possible demolition of illegal structures, as part of the government’s efforts to maintain sustainable and environmentally responsible development along the shoreline.
The Minister further highlighted that the Federal Government is actively working to document all its assets nationwide, with a special focus on regulating shoreline properties. This initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to enforce proper land management practices and safeguard the environment.
Under the Land (Title Vesting) Act of 1975, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development holds the authority to issue titles for shoreline properties, while the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is responsible for granting dredging permits. However, the physical control of developments, including construction and land use regulations, falls under the jurisdiction of the Lagos State Government.
During his visit, Minister Dangiwa also took the opportunity to tour other Federal Government housing projects in Lagos, including the Ogbogbo Housing Project and the Ikorodu Low-Cost Housing sites. These visits are part of ongoing efforts to assess the progress of federal housing projects in Lagos and ensure their alignment with the government’s long-term urban development goals. The Minister’s visit will culminate in a Stakeholder Engagement meeting scheduled for Friday, December 13, 2024, where discussions regarding the future of Lagos shoreline developments are expected to continue.
The Federal Government’s decisive stance underscores its commitment to enforcing regulations and ensuring that all developments along the Lagos shoreline adhere to established legal frameworks. Developers are now under immense pressure to regularize their projects or face the consequences of non-compliance, marking a pivotal moment in the government’s efforts to uphold urban planning standards and environmental sustainability along one of Nigeria’s most important coastal regions.
