Adedokun Waliyu 
The federal government has issued a one-month ultimatum to developers who have erected “illegal and haphazard structures” on the Lagos shoreline.
Ahmed Dangiwa, minister of housing and urban development, gave the ultimatum on Thursday after an inspection of Lagos lagoon estates and the waterfront.
Dangiwa said failure to comply with regulations within the stipulated timeframe will result in the revocation and demolition of the affected buildings.
“The federal government is taking stock of its assets and landed properties with the view to having proper documentation of its assets spread across the country,” Dangiwa said.
He noted that the federal and state governments will collaborate to ensure that development on the shoreline is orderly and in line with existing laws.
The minister decried scenarios where people carve some areas, sand fill and build, without requisite approval.
“There is no room for haphazard developments on the Lagos shoreline. We are working with Lagos State to fix these anomalies,” the minister said.
“The federal government, through Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, has the rights to issuance and administration of title on shorelines in accordance with the Land (Title Vesting) Act 1975; and through Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority, grants permit to dredging along the shoreline, while the State Government has the control over physical development on the shoreline.”
The minister also visited other federal government sites, including Ogbogbo Housing Project Ikorodu, and Ikorodu Low Cost Housing.
He will round off his working visit on Friday with a stakeholder engagement session.
