Land reclamation at Makoko approved by FG and Lagos State

The Lagos State Government has defended the ongoing land reclamation at the Makoko waterfront near the Third Mainland Bridge. They insist that the project has all the necessary approvals from both the state and federal government before any work started.

The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Alebiosu, spoke on Wednesday during Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television. He made this clear in a statement from the ministry shared on the same day.

Mr Alebiosu said that the reclamation project, located around the Ebute Meta/Lagos Island interchange, is being carried out by FBT Coral, a private developer that followed all the required rules before starting work.

“The reclamation work you see in Makoko around the Third Mainland Bridge is being handled by FBT Coral. They got approval from the federal government and also obtained the necessary clearance from the Lagos State Government,” he said.

The commissioner mentioned that after the project started, concerns arose from the Federal Ministry of Works. They were worried that dredging near the Third Mainland Bridge could damage the bridge's structure.

But he explained that investigations showed the developer was not dredging near the bridge. Instead, they were pumping sand from locations several kilometres away to the reclamation site.

He added that the project passed an Environmental Impact Assessment and got the necessary drainage clearance before it was approved. Mr Alebiosu emphasized that the Lagos State Government paused the project for about a year. This pause allowed the developer to get extra clearance from the Federal Ministry of Works.

He said the ministry later set up a technical committee to review the project. After this review, the developer was allowed to continue work. “Every relevant agency came together, assessed the project and agreed it could proceed. It is therefore not my place to describe it as an illegal development,” he stated.

The commissioner also confirmed the state’s commitment to fighting illegal dredging. He noted that his ministry has not issued any dredging permit since he took office.

He pointed out that recent bathymetric surveys showed that sand in Lagos waterways is gradually running out. Operators are now having to source sand from much farther offshore than before.

“I have not issued one dredging permit in my ministry. The bathymetric survey showed us that where operators used to pump sand from about three kilometres away, they are now going as far as 14 kilometres. That tells us we are gradually running out of sand, and everyone must join hands to tackle illegal dredging,” he said.

Mr Alebiosu recognized that illegal dredging is still a big problem despite enforcement efforts. He said the government would keep fighting against offenders. “There is no country in the world that is completely free of crime. The objective is to reduce it. Sometimes we are proactive, sometimes reactive, but we will continue to fight these illegal activities,” he added.

He also warned residents of Ikorodu and other waterfront communities not to support illegal dredging. He said that continuing environmental violations could have serious ecological effects.

The commissioner’s comments come as public debate continues about the future of Makoko, one of Lagos’ biggest waterfront settlements. Redevelopment efforts here have led to disputes over demolitions, environmental protection, and residents’ rights.

In February, the Lagos State Government announced plans for a $10 million Makoko Water City project. The state would contribute $2 million while the United Nations was expected to give up to $8 million to support the regeneration of the fishing community.

At that time, Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS, explained that the proposed project aimed to modernize Makoko without affecting homes outside safety corridors.

He also mentioned that the government dropped an earlier shoreline extension plan after experts raised concerns about its environmental impact. Instead, they chose the water city model.

Mr Babatunde said that residents had been consulted through meetings with state officials and representatives of the United Nations. He said demolition activities would be limited to structures within the high-tension electricity corridor to protect lives and important infrastructure.

However, this announcement came amid growing criticism of demolition activities in Makoko and other waterfront areas. Residents claimed that homes, schools, and health facilities were destroyed without proper consultation, compensation, or resettlement. The Lagos State Government has repeatedly denied these claims.

The demolitions sparked protests by residents from Makoko, Owode-Onirin, Oworonshoki, Bariga, Ajegunle, and other affected areas at the Lagos State House of Assembly. They demanded compensation and accountability.

The protests turned violent after police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. This led to condemnation from civil society groups and human rights organizations.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, referred to previous court decisions. He mentioned a 2017 Lagos State High Court ruling and an August 2025 Federal High Court order that restricted demolitions in Makoko and other waterfront settlements. He argued that affected communities deserved legal protection.

While the Lagos State Government insists that the demolitions are necessary to protect critical infrastructure and enforce urban planning rules, rights groups argue that these actions mainly impact poor waterfront residents and are done without proper safeguards for those displaced.

Although Wednesday’s clarification about reclamation relates to a different development, it might bring back public scrutiny of the state’s plans for Makoko. Mr Alebiosu maintained that the reclamation project near the Third Mainland Bridge went through environmental assessments, secured all needed approvals, and got clearance from relevant agencies before work resumed.