The Lagos State Government has commenced the demolition of structures within Megamound Estate, Oral Estate, and parts of Lekki County for allegedly encroaching on the Ikota River’s right of way.
This action, announced by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, was initiated on Friday, May 9, following the expiration of notices earlier served to affected property owners.
Wahab shared the development via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, stating that the operation was carried out by officials from the Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Department of the ministry.
He explained that the demolitions are part of the state’s flood prevention efforts in the Eti-Osa axis, aimed at restoring natural drainage paths and protecting lives and properties.
“Following the expiration of served notices, operatives from the Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Department of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources on Friday commenced the removal of contravening structures within Megamound Estate and Oral Estate along Ikota River alignment, Eti-Osa, to prevent perennial flooding in the area,” Wahab posted.
The government said that the affected buildings were constructed on the natural drainage channel of the Ikota River and that removing them is essential for mitigating recurrent flooding in the Lekki region.
The demolition exercise, which has sparked reactions online and within the affected communities, is expected to continue in the coming days as more properties built on water channels have been marked for removal.
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