The Lagos State Government has demolished several duplexes and other buildings along the Ikota River in Eti-Osa Local Government Area for violating urban planning laws and obstructing natural drainage channels.
In videos shared on X by victims on Tuesday, the demolition, carried out by operatives from the Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Department, is part of ongoing efforts to address perennial flooding in the Lekki and Ikota axis.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the operation in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on September 26, stating that it targeted structures “blocking the free flow of stormwater along the Ikota River alignment.”
“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 blocking the free flow of stormwater along Ikota River alignment, Lekki, Eti-Osa, to prevent perennial flooding in the area,” Wahab said.
The enforcement intensified on September 30, leading to the demolition of several duplexes reportedly worth millions of naira.
The affected properties were said to have violated urban planning regulations and failed to comply with a building regularisation amnesty that had expired.
The exercise followed heavy rainfall on September 25, which caused flooding in parts of Ikota and Lekki, exposing the impact of blocked drainage channels.
Some affected residents have called for greater transparency in building permit approvals and verification processes, saying they were not adequately informed before the demolition.
Authorities, however, maintain that necessary notices were served, insisting that illegal constructions obstructing waterways will continue to be removed to safeguard lives and property.
It was reported on April 1, 2025, that the Lagos State Building Control Agency had begun removing illegal structures across the state following the expiration of an amnesty period granted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to the report, the exercise commenced in Ogudu GRA, where LASBCA officials moved in to enforce compliance with the state’s urban planning regulations after the amnesty period ended.
The grace period, initially scheduled to lapse earlier, was extended to December 31, 2024, to allow property owners to regularise their building documents
