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– EIA Approval Now Mandatory for Major Real Estate and Infrastructure Projects
– Reclamation, Shopping Malls, Industrial Facilities All Require EIA Clearance
– State Signals Strict Enforcement to Safeguard Environment and Public Health
The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed that no development project will be allowed to proceed without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval, underscoring the legal requirement for environmental scrutiny prior to construction. Engr. Olakunle Rotimi–Akodu, the State’s Special Adviser on Environment, clarified that all major developments—including buildings with five floors or more, larger residential complexes, shopping malls, filling stations, industrial sites, sand mining, land reclamation, and dredging—must complete the EIA process before ground is broken. The government emphasized its readiness to enforce compliance in the interest of public safety and sustainable development.
This directive aligns with previous positions taken by the state’s Environment Commissioner, Mr. Tunji Bello, who emphasized that EIAs provide essential insights into a project’s environmental, health, and social impacts—enabling mitigation strategies before damages occur. Lagos State considers the EIA a pivotal environmental management tool and is committed to enforcing it in compliance with both state and national environmental laws—including the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection