FG revokes development approvals in coastal, highway setback zones
The federal government has announced the revocation of all prior approvals for developments in national corridors and ecological zone setbacks.
This decision marks the beginning of strict enforcement of development control regulations along federal highways, coastal roads, shorelines, and the Lagos Lagoon corridor.
According to the Surveyor General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adebomehin, this action follows a directive from President Bola Tinubu to halt all unauthorized developments in these sensitive areas.
“The enforcement applies to all affected zones and nullifies all previously granted planning approvals,” Adebomehin stated.
He emphasized that State governments have been directed to suspend any further planning approvals within the designated corridors, unless such approvals are done in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation.
To ensure adherence to this new directive, Adebomehin declared, “All development approvals granted on or before July 2, 2025, must be submitted to the Office of the Surveyor General for verification, harmonization, and compilation.” He warned that approvals not submitted or those issued after September 30, 2025, will be deemed invalid.
In an effort to protect the environment and critical infrastructure, Adebomehin ordered a halt to all ongoing unauthorized reclamation works. “The indiscriminate creation of artificial islands and unapproved sand-filling activities will no longer be tolerated, “he asserted.
He reiterated that any encroachment without federal approval would be considered illegal moving forward, stressing that no state or local authority should independently approve projects within the affected setback zones without federal collaboration.
To facilitate effective monitoring and regulation, mechanisms are being established to coordinate infrastructure development along Nigeria’s shorelines and ecological zones.
Adebomehin pointed out that this directive is supported by existing legal provisions, which include sections of the Federal Highways Act and the Lands (Title Vesting, Etc.) Act of 2004, alongside other pertinent legal frameworks.
Source: The Nation
