Over the weekend, the Lagos State Government urged developers to refrain from encroaching on wetlands after sealing off a private estate under construction in Gbagada.
Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, made this appeal during a press interview following an inspection of enforcement sites and ongoing projects. He emphasized the state's commitment to combat the increasing issue of wetland encroachment.
Wahab highlighted that wetlands are invaluable natural habitats that cannot be replaced by financial means, stressing the importance of preserving these areas against further encroachment, which has become common in various parts of the state.
Accompanied by the Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, and other officials, Wahab noted that during their visit to the TREM drainage channel along Anthony Oke, Oshodi Expressway, they observed significant encroachment and blockage of the drainage due to a private estate development.
He ordered the immediate sealing of the Maverick Estate site, which is still in its early stages, instructing all construction workers to vacate the premises. Wahab also mandated the removal of the estate's fences and requested that the developer present the necessary land approval, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), and drainage approval, among other documents.