The Lagos authorities has ordered the rapid suspension of all reclamation tasks throughout the state.
Commissioner for the Surroundings and Water Assets, Tokunbo Wahab, mentioned the directive applies to tasks with or with out Environmental Impression Evaluation (EIA) approval and drainage clearance.
In a press release on Thursday, Wahab mentioned the federal government is anxious concerning the proliferation of reclamation actions on wetlands, floodplains and lagoons, notably in Parkview, Banana Island, Osborne, Ikoyi, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Oworonshoki, Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Ojo and Badagry.
He mentioned most of the tasks are being executed with out due approvals from the ministry, including that such indiscriminate actions pose important environmental and social dangers.
He said: “These embody elevated vulnerability to flooding, coastal erosion, disruption of livelihoods (particularly fishing), lack of wetlands and biodiversity, constriction of the lagoons and their capability, and impairment of water high quality.
“With the low-lying topography of the state and its fragile ecosystem, the state authorities can’t afford to permit this indiscriminate reclamation of the lagoons, wetlands and floodplains to proceed unabated.”
Wahab mentioned all authorized reclamation tasks have to be resubmitted for correct documentation and monitoring, whereas ongoing and intending ones should endure the EIA course of and procure clearance from the ministry.
He warned that failure to conform inside seven days will go away the ministry with no choice however to decommission the websites, unblock lagoon channels, and arrest and prosecute these concerned.