SEO Riders
– EIA & Drainage Clearance Now Required Before Land Reclamation
– Compliance Aims to Preempt Flood Risks and Ecosystem Damage
– Government Emphasizes That Prevention Costs Less Than Cleanup
The Lagos State Government has firmly declared that no development project—public or private—may proceed without a valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and, where relevant, drainage clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab emphasized this directive following a site inspection in Lekki’s Orange Island area, where illegal dredging and sand-filling had pushed beyond permitted boundaries into sensitive lagoon zones. The required EIA and drainage approvals are designed to ensure projects stay within approved alignments and safeguard ecosystems against unchecked development.
This measure reinforces the government’s longstanding position that EIA is not only an essential decision-making tool but also a legal requirement. The EIA process encompasses submitting a Terms of Reference, project registration, field assessments, site verification, draft report submission, technical review, and final approval or rejection. Lagos officials assert that proactive environmental planning—including public participation and transparency—both prevents conflicts and supports project sustainability. Ultimately, they stress, “the cost of doing the right thing is cheaper than the cost of remediating consequences.”
