Lagos seals Lekki property, arrests five over illegal dredging, reclamation

By Adeola Ogunrinde –

The Lagos State Government has intensified its crackdown on illegal dredging and land reclamation, sealing several sites and arresting five suspects during an enforcement exercise in the Lekki area on Saturday.

The operation was carried out by the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development in collaboration with the Ministries of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Environment and Water Resources, and the Lands Bureau.

Leading the team, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush Alebiosu, said the exercise was aimed at halting the unlawful activities threatening the state’s lagoon ecosystem and public safety. A property at 13A, Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, was sealed for illegal reclamation works and unauthorized fence extension.

“This particular building has been sealed on several occasions by all the relevant ministries dating from last year up till now, yet the owners have continued with construction and social activities without any form of regard. That is legendary audacity and a blatant disregard for the law,” Alebiosu said.

He added that offenders would be prosecuted and risk forfeiting reclaimed land, while recovered sand would be repurposed for state-approved uses.

Commissioner for Physical Planning, Dr. Olumide Oluyinka, disclosed that the property owner originally presented a 1,200sqm layout but had illegally expanded it to 8,000sqm. He condemned the ongoing use of the incomplete building for parties, stressing that such activities endangered lives.

The enforcement team also stormed the Lekki foreshore, where multiple illegal dredging and reclamation sites were discovered and sealed. Alebiosu lamented the growing scale of unlawful sand trading without Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and raised concerns over the spread of waterfront shanties serving as criminal hideouts. He revealed that one vessel fled the scene on sighting the officials.

Oluyinka noted that the joint exercise underscored the resolve of the three ministries to put an end to illegal reclamation and waterfront abuse. The team also inspected the Ilubirin housing project to assess activities on-site.

Alebiosu emphasized that the enforcement drive followed resolutions of the recent Waterfront Summit, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu pledged tougher action against illegal activities along the state’s waterways.

“The Lagos State Government will continue to protect its waterfronts and lagoons against abuse, and offenders will face the full weight of the law,” Alebiosu warned.