Sanwo-Olu Warns Lagos Residents Against Building on Wetlands

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has warned residents and developers against building on wetlands and drainage channels, saying their destruction increases the risk of flooding and coastal erosion.

Sanwo-Olu spoke at the Nigerian Conservation Foundation’s 20th annual Walk for Nature at Lagos State University, Ojo, where he stressed the importance of protecting the state’s natural environment. 

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Gaji Tajudeen, the governor said Lagos’s coastal location, low-lying terrain and growing population make wetland protection critical to public safety.

He disclosed that the state government suspended reclamation activities affecting wetlands, floodplains and lagoon fronts in September 2025 where developers had not obtained the required environmental impact assessments and other approvals. 

He added that development projects must meet drainage and environmental requirements before receiving approval.

The governor also said the government was investing in drainage infrastructure, mangrove restoration, tree planting and parks to strengthen the state’s natural defences against flooding and rising temperatures. 

He noted that enforcement of the ban on styrofoam and other single-use plastics had been ongoing since July 2025, while efforts were being made to promote sustainable alternatives.

Sanwo-Olu urged residents to stop dumping refuse in drains, reduce the use of single-use plastics and avoid building on wetlands and drainage channels. 

He also encouraged young people to separate their waste, plant trees and promote environmental awareness in their schools and communities.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation’s National Executive Council, Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi, warned that rising sea levels, flooding, extreme heat and wetland loss threatened communities and livelihoods in Lagos. 

She called for climate action to be integrated into land-use planning, flood management and urban development.

The event, themed Inspired for Climate Action, featured a road walk from the LASU campus in Ojo to Iyana School Bus Stop along the LASU-Isheri Road.