By Nehemiah Anini for The Chronicles of Construction
The Lagos State coastline — long admired for its natural beauty and potential as a hub for leisure, housing, and tourism — is now at the center of an important urban management conversation.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced that the Lagos State Government will begin a comprehensive regulation of beach houses and unapproved developments spreading across coastal communities such as Ibeshe, Ilashe, Kare, Inagbe, and Takwa Bay.
The move follows years of unchecked physical growth, much of it encroaching on approved setbacks and violating planning laws.
Earlier this week, the Governor embarked on an unscheduled five-hour tour of key riverine towns, accompanied by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, members of the Executive Council, senior officials, and traditional leaders.
The team conducted on-the-spot assessments of chaotic and haphazard developments along the shoreline. Sanwo-Olu described what he saw as a serious concern for Lagos’ long-term coastal management.
“We will be coming back to this corridor for a full enumeration of violations. Both the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) will return for detailed documentation. Our decision will cover how to regularize, give title, and ensure locals are not at a disadvantage,” the Governor said.
While acknowledging that the corridor’s natural landscape offers immense opportunities for tourism, investment, and housing, the Governor stressed that order, infrastructure, and planning must guide its development.
Without proper regulation, the sprawling beach houses and private structures risk undermining the corridor’s long-term potential as a destination for leisure and economic growth.
This Lagos State move comes at a time when the Federal Government has also tightened control over shoreline developments.
By law, a stretch of land along Nigeria’s coasts, islands, and waterways belongs to the federal government. Recently, the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) suspended all land allocations and Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) in such areas.
- Any titles issued outside the Presidency or OSGOF risk revocation.
- Buildings that encroach on federal rights-of-way or lack approvals risk demolition.
- The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has been directed to halt new permits and submit old approvals for review.
This directive strengthens earlier warnings by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who in December 2024 cautioned shoreline developers to regularize their projects or face demolition.
For Lagos and Nigeria at large, this development signals a new era of stricter coastal governance. It also highlights the delicate balance between private development, government regulation, and environmental sustainability.
For professionals in the built environment — from architects and town planners to developers and engineers — this is a reminder of the critical role of compliance in shaping sustainable urban futures.
At The Chronicles of Construction, we’ll continue tracking how Lagos’ coastal reforms unfold and what they mean for professionals, investors, and residents who see Nigeria’s waterways as more than just a view — but as an engine of growth.
