Lagos issues stop work order on illegal land reclamation by Ojomu Royal Family
Alebiosu and others during the tour
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has issued a stop work order on the illegal land reclamation and dredging and other prohibited activities going on around the shorelines of Ikoyi-Lekki, especially the Pocket Island belonging to the Ojomu royal family.
The commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Ekundayo Alebiosu who led the familiarization and inspection tour of various projects and sites of the ministry, expressed his displeasure at the infractions going on some of the government-approved Islands, especially the illegal land reclamation on Gracefield and Pocket Islands in Chevron Lekki.
Investigations revealed that the Pocket Island and some surroundings Islands belong to the Ojomu Royal family in Ajiranland.
Alebiosu, who also decried the illegal reclamation of parts of waterways along the Ikoyi-Lekki shoreline, specifically on; Osborne Foreshore I & II, Park View, Banana Island, Kings Smart City, Lekki Foreshore, and Lekki Phase I, vowed to serve ‘stop work order’ on all developments that completely breached the set back policy of state government.
“There are lots of infractions here, we are on Gracefield Island, being managed by Gravitas, we have also been to the Pocket Island nearby, we are at a bridge point here, and you can see reclamation happening to the left and to the right.
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“These are separate Islands, they are not extensions, but there has to be a setback of a minimum of 200m that will serve as drainage taking water from the Island to the Lagoon, but they disregard the setback plan and that is unacceptable.
“We also realised that the drainage which should drain water into the lagoon has been completely blocked, they are reclaiming next to it, there is no setback, no drainage, and even the bridge have been completely blocked, I have directed that they be served ‘stop work order’, otherwise we’ll have serious issues here.
“We reiterate our stand on zero tolerance for illegal land reclamation and dredging. We will also continue to ensure sanctions are brought on defaulters until we make our waterfront free from all illegalities,” Alebiosu expressed.
During their interaction with the ministry officials, the developer managing the government-approved Gracefield Island, Gravitas, Olajumoke Owoyeye, also implored the state government to look into developments around the Island that have been disregarding the setback rules and drainage policy.
