Magodo Residents Petition Sanwo-Olu Over Wetland Encroachment Threat

The Magodo Phase II Residents Association has formally appealed to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, requesting his intervention to prevent what they describe as an illegal attempt by developers to construct access roads. These proposed roads would cut through their estate to reach a designated protected wetland. The association highlighted concerns after observing numerous articulated trucks and heavy-duty machinery positioned near the Shangisha Gate, suggesting an imminent forceful entry into the community.

In a press statement released on Monday, signed by its chairman, Niyi Odusi, the association implored the governor to mandate the removal of these vehicles and secure the perimeter of Magodo Phase II. The statement emphasized, “The estate is currently under threat. A large number of articulated trucks and heavy-duty equipment are currently stationed outside the Shangisha Gate, ready to make a forceful entry.” They warned that this tactic, often employed by land grabbers, directly jeopardizes residents' security and risks unsettling the area's peace. “We call upon Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to order the immediate evacuation of these vehicles and protect the boundaries of Magodo Phase II,” the statement reiterated.

The residents' body further cautioned that the planned development could severely compromise the Magodo wetland, potentially leading to widespread flooding in nearby areas. They pressed the state government to act decisively before any construction commences and to uphold commitments reportedly made to the association on November 26, 2023, by Oluyinka Olumide, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.

Recalling the previous assurance, the statement quoted, “At that time, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Oluyinka Olumide, assured the MRA that the state would not facilitate access routes through the estate into the virgin land, respecting the structural integrity of our community.”

The residents argued that proceeding with such development would directly contradict Lagos State's environmental policies concerning wetland preservation. They referenced remarks by Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, who, according to them, had previously warned about the severe flooding risks associated with building on wetlands.

The association cited Wahab's warning that potential flooding from wetland construction could dwarf the disaster experienced at Isheri-Oshun, assuring residents that the state remained committed to enforcing its wetland protection stance. They also brought up the perspective of Francisco Abosede, a former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, who reportedly deemed the soil unsuitable for residential construction.

Abosede had reportedly explained that the wetland served a crucial role in the Lagos State Master Plan as a natural stormwater collection basin for areas like Agidingbi, Ikeja, Ogba, and Alausa. The statement cautioned that any interference with this wetland could disrupt natural drainage patterns and significantly elevate flood risks across these affected regions. “If this wetland is compromised, the stormwater from Ikeja, Alausa, and surrounding areas will have nowhere to go, resulting in catastrophic flooding that will submerge Magodo and threaten the state’s seat of power,” the association declared.

The Magodo residents firmly stated their resolve to resist any development perceived as a threat to their safety, property, and environment. “The MRA will not stand by and watch land speculators endanger our lives, properties, and environment in open defiance of government directives,” the statement asserted. “We demand that the Lagos State Government enforce its laws, honor its pledges, and act swiftly to secure the Shangisha Gate axis.”

The statement, however, did not name the specific developers allegedly involved in the proposed project or provide details regarding any official construction approvals for such an undertaking.