Lagos State Government has announced a sweeping policy that mandates the forfeiture of illegally reclaimed land to the government, alongside stiff financial penalties, as part of measures to protect its fragile coastal and waterfront ecosystems.

In a statement yesterday, the new directive, approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was revealed by the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush Alebiosu, in the build-up to the 2025 World Oceans Day.

Alebiosu said any unauthorised reclamation, particularly activities that encroach on or narrow the state’s waterways, will now result in automatic forfeiture of half of the land to the Lagos State government. In addition, violators will be subjected to heavy penalties calculated at open market value.

He also disclosed that his ministry is working assiduously with the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, as well as the office of eGIS, with the view to monitoring the waterways to ensure safety, as well as monitoring all illegal activities on the waters, including illegal dredging and reclamation.

He, however, described the lagoon as not just a physical landmark but a vital part of Lagos’ lifeblood.

Also, the state government has reiterated its commitment to protecting the state’s coastline and building a safer, more resilient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable state to be passed on to the next generation.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated this while representing the state at the ongoing United Nations Ocean conference in Nice, France.

According to him, Lagos, as a coastal state, faces severe climate risks, such as rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, and excessive heat, but is not sitting back and watching.

Wahab, who said that the state had invested in its drainage systems in the past two years through year-round clearing of all primary and secondary drains to reduce the possibilities of flash flooding, stated that with over 13,000 tonnes of daily waste generation, Lagos State is transitioning from a linear disposal system of “pick and dump” to a circular model where waste becomes a resource for energy and recovery.