The Lagos State Government has firmly denied allegations circulating on social media that officials of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources demanded money from property owners to halt the ongoing removal of illegal structures on drainage setbacks at Oral Estate, Ikota.
Reacting to the viral video containing what he described as “false and malicious allegations,” the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, @tokunbo_wahab, said neither he nor any ministry official had solicited or received any payment from property owners involved in the enforcement exercise.
“My attention has been drawn to a circulating video containing false and malicious allegations that the Ministry demanded money from property owners to pause the ongoing removal of structures on drainage setbacks at Oral Estate, Ikota,” Wahab stated on his official X handle, @tokunbo_wahab.
“I must state categorically that these claims are entirely false and a deliberate attempt to blackmail the government. Neither I nor any official from the Ministry has ever requested or received any payment — whether ₦1 billion, ₦700 million, or even a single kobo — from any property owner.”
The Commissioner emphasized that the ongoing clearance operation, aimed at reclaiming the Right of Way of major drainage channels and canals, was a public safety imperative designed to prevent flooding and protect lives and property across Lagos.
He clarified that the exercise had not been suspended, contrary to social media insinuations, and would continue as scheduled in accordance with the state’s environmental protection policies.
“The operation to clear the Right of Way and setbacks to different channels and canals of illegal obstructions is a public safety imperative, and it has not been paused for any form of negotiation or payment. Our work continues,” Wahab affirmed.
Describing the circulating claims as “propaganda and a dangerous distraction,” Wahab reiterated that the government remains resolute in its mission to ensure free-flowing drainage systems and a flood-free Lagos.
“This propaganda is a dangerous distraction from our critical mission to prevent flooding and protect the majority of Lagosians,” he said.
“We take these defamatory allegations with the utmost seriousness. We shall be pursuing this matter legally, and the individual behind these claims will be required to provide proof to the appropriate authorities.”
Wahab assured residents that the Ministry’s enforcement operations are carried out transparently, in the public interest, and with zero tolerance for corruption, urging Lagosians to disregard false narratives aimed at undermining government policies.
