Lagos demolishes 1,544 illegal structures, arrests 10,575 environmental offenders

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Lagos State Government has intensified its demolition and environmental enforcement drive across the state, demolishing over 1,544 illegal structures obstructing drainage channels and arresting 10,575 persons for various environmental offences in a sweeping campaign aimed at restoring order and preventing flooding.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Sunday during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, where he reeled out the achievements of the ministry under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

Wahab said the government’s enforcement and compliance operations had been strengthened to tackle illegal developments, drainage blockages, environmental pollution and indiscriminate activities threatening the state’s ecosystem.

According to him, the Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Department identified 2,218 contravening structures across different communities in Lagos and successfully demolished 1,544 structures built on drainage alignments.

“While concerted efforts are being made to ensure that storm water flows directly into our various collectors, we also ensure that our enforcement was upbeat about ensuring that infractions have no place in the scheme of things,” Wahab said.

“The Department in its enforcement drive identified 2,218 contravening structures in various communities in the state and successfully removed 1,544 of these contravening structures from drainage alignment with a success rate calculated to 70 per cent,” he added.

The commissioner also revealed that developers involved in illegal reclamation and wetland encroachment in areas such as Ogombo, Lekki Phase II, Itoikin-Epe axis and Majidun in Ikorodu were sanctioned after failing to comply with government directives.

“As part of the Ministry’s continuous wetland monitoring and compliance activities, some developers were found carrying out unauthorized reclamation and illegal construction on wetland areas and were subsequently served statutory notices, given 48 hours to comply,” he said.

“Where compliance was not achieved, enforcement actions were carried out, leading to the sealing of nine facilities involved in illegal wetland encroachment,” Wahab stated.

The commissioner further disclosed that the ministry carried out full enforcement against illegal reclamation projects executed without Environmental Impact Assessment approval and drainage clearance, especially around Lekki, Banana Island and Parkview Estate corridors.

He said: “The Ministry through the Department in the year 2025 announced the ban on reclamation projects being executed without EIA approval and drainage clearance and carried out full enforcement action on illegal reclamation projects without EIA approval and drainage clearance.”

On environmental sanitation enforcement, Wahab said the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI/LAGES) unit intensified operations across Lagos, arresting thousands of offenders for environmental and traffic-related violations.

“During the period under review, the enforcement arm of the ministry known as the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI/LAGES) served 192 Environmental Abatement Notices,” he said.

Wahab added that 150 people were arrested for open defecation, including squatters occupying pedestrian bridges across the state.

“The Agency arrested a total of 6,789 persons for highway crossing and failure to use pedestrian bridges. KAI also arrested 3,786 people comprising illegal traders, street traders, environmental polluters and cart pushers. All these individuals were prosecuted according to the Lagos State Environmental Law,” he stated.

The commissioner said the government was determined to ensure Lagos remains flood-free and environmentally sustainable through aggressive dredging, drainage maintenance and enforcement activities.

He disclosed that 18 primary drainage channels covering approximately 76 kilometres had been dredged, while 179 secondary collectors spanning about 178 kilometres were cleaned across the 20 local government areas of the state.

Wahab stressed that the Sanwo-Olu administration would continue to prioritise environmental protection, compliance and urban renewal to safeguard lives and property across Lagos State.

The commissioner also revealed that the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, intensified environmental monitoring and pollution control measures across the state.

According to Wahab, LASEPA completed 114 installations of air quality sensors and rehabilitated air pollution abatement facilities to improve environmental monitoring and air quality management in Lagos.

“The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) on its part successfully completed 114 installations of Air Quality Sensors and the rehabilitation of Air pollution abatement facilities across the State,” he said.

He added that cleaner fish processing technology was introduced at Ago Egun, Makoko, through the deployment of improved fish kilns to reduce smoke emissions and protect residents’ health.

“In addition, cleaner fish processing technology was introduced at Ago Egun, Makoko through the deployment of an improved fish kiln, which has helped to reduce smoke emissions, improve air quality, and protect the health of local processors,” Wahab stated.