Ikota River Encroachment: Lagos Issues Quit Notices as it marks 39 buildings for demolition

Lagos State Government has marked at least 39 buildings located in two highbrow estates for demolition over Right of Way of Ikota Riverbank, at Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the State.

Ikota is part of the Maroko Okun Alfa ward, in Lekki axis.This comes as the State Government issued indefinite quit notices to the affected occupants of the buildings to enable them move their properties and families before the demolition commences.

The affected buildings, located at Oral Extension Estate, and Westend, Mega Mond Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA, include: 20 buildings to be totally removed, eight marked for partial removal, while 13 buildings are to go down at Westend Estate part.

Meanwhile, enforcement team of Ministry of The Environment and Water Resources, on Thursday, were seen poking the fences of some of the marked buildings in the estates.

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Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, led the enforcement team to the site.

Wahab, while addressing the media, explained that government swooped into action following series of petitions on encroachment of the Ikota River.

According to Wahab; “We had several complaints. We have been on this for a while now and we found out at the ministry level that whilst we are engaging to find a win-win solution that will mitigate the negative impact on the environment and they don’t affect the people so much.

“Some developments were also going on to further push back the Right of Way (RoW), and the alignment of the Ikota River.

“So we had a digital footprint of the situation of things and we had to come there today. What we met on ground is not good at all. It’s not palatable.

“So we’ve said to them, let us allow them move their things out. Family men and women with children and come to school. So whilst that is ongoing, we talked the walls and pushed them back and I’m glad you also saw what was on ground at Oral.

“We have been to Oral Estate before now and you can’t compare what we met then last year and what was on Grant today.