Lagos targets encroachment clears structures at Maiyegun-Lekki Beach (Video)

The Lagos State Government has commenced the removal of shanties and other illegal structures at Maiyegun-Lekki Beach along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, in what officials described as a renewed drive to safeguard waterfronts, beaches and coastal corridors across the state.

The enforcement exercise, which began on-site with sanitation and environmental teams deployed to the area, is part of a broader strategy aimed at reclaiming public spaces and curbing illegal encroachment on government land.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that officials were actively clearing makeshift buildings and other unauthorised structures that had sprung up along the coastal stretch.

He said the operation aligns with the state’s sustained campaign against environmental degradation, illegal occupation of public land, and activities considered to pose risks to public safety and ecological balance.

According to Wahab, the government remains committed to restoring order in coastal communities and ensuring that waterfronts are preserved in line with urban planning and environmental regulations.

The Lekki coastal axis, particularly around Maiyegun-Lekki Beach, has in recent years witnessed the proliferation of informal settlements and commercial structures, prompting concerns over sanitation, security, and obstruction of natural drainage channels.

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Officials say the ongoing clearance is also intended to prevent flooding, improve public access to coastal areas, and reinforce the state’s broader environmental sustainability goals.

Authorities have urged residents and business operators occupying waterfront areas without proper approval to comply with existing regulations, warning that similar enforcement actions would continue across other parts of the state’s coastline.