Federal Government Warns Lagos Shoreline Developers To Regularize Projects Or Face Demolition

The federal government has warned developers along the Lagos shoreline to regularize their projects or face the possibility of revocation and demolition, as per Salisu Haiba, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

In a statement issued Thursday, Minister Ahmed Dangiwa gave the ultimatum after inspecting the Lagos Lagoon Estates and other shoreline areas, Punch reported.

Dangiwa, along with Permanent Secretary Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi and other senior ministry officials, expressed concern about the growing number of illegal developments along the lagoon's shoreline.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development was responsible for issuing titles on the shoreline under the Land (Title Vesting) Act of 1975. Whereas, the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority was in charge of giving permits for dredging along the shoreline.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government oversaw physical development in the area. Dangiwa also visited several other federal government sites in Lagos, including the Ogbogbo Housing Project in Ikorodu and the Ikorodu Low-Cost Housing sites.

The minister said that these developments -- including unauthorized land reclamation and construction -- were happening without proper documentation and approval from the federal government.

He said that there was no tolerance for careless development along the Lagos shoreline. The ministry was working closely with the Lagos State Government to fix these issues and ensure all projects comply with the law.

The minister's inspection included a boat trip with officials from the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority to see the situation up close.

The officials during the visit saw that some developers had filled parts of the shoreline with sand and started construction without proper titles from the federal government, breaking established rules.

In an agreement with the Lagos State Government, Dangiwa outlined plans for joint efforts to manage development along the shoreline.

The minister stated that the federal government will not allow these illegal actions to continue and has given developers a one-month deadline to regularize their projects. If they fail to comply, their structures will be revoked and demolished.

He also mentioned that the federal government was working to document its assets nationwide, with a focus on properly regulating shoreline properties.