Untold Story Behind Shut Down Of Timeless, Iceland Beaches & Over 180 Buildings In Okun-Ajah

On Monday, June 23, 2025, the popular leisure havens, Timeless Beach and Iceland Beach, located in the Okun-Ajah area of Eti-Osa, Lagos State, were shut down.

The closure was executed by the Lagos State Government, which also issued stop-work orders and sealed more than 180 residential and under-construction buildings in the area.

The enforcement exercise was carried out by a team from the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, led by Commissioner Dayo Alebiosu.

It was triggered by violations relating to failure to comply with multiple notices and summonses concerning encroachment on state-owned land.

The affected area is a marshland waterfront that was reclaimed by the Lagos State Government and shared with indigenous landowners. 

According to available information, portions of the state-owned land were illegally encroached upon and sold to private individuals and businesses.

Timeless Beach, Iceland Beach, and several other buildings that were shut down, sealed, or issued stop-work orders fall under the category of entities and individuals who illegally acquired government land in the Okun-Ajah community.

Government sources confirmed that rather than immediately demolish the properties and reclaim the land, Commissioner Dayo Alebiosu offered affected property owners the option to regularize their land acquisitions with the state.

“The HC (Honourable Commissioner) is viewing the situation through the lens of the investment already in place, as well as the need to position the state to attract more investors under the Greater Lagos Agenda of the Governor.

“Iceland and Timeless Beach are major hospitality investments in the area and the state at large. And there are other such investments as well. We also cannot downplay the value of the private residences,” a government source revealed. 

Adding, “So, instead of demolitions, the HC offered an opportunity to ratify the land acquisitions. All affected parties were served notices and summonses. Some responded – about 40 property owners- and have already had their e-surveys processed. Those that didn’t are the ones impacted by Monday’s enforcement.”

Further findings revealed that in enforcing the law, Commissioner Alebiosu’s team assessed each case individually—applying a human face to the law.

Businesses were locked up, stop-work orders enforced at construction sites, and seals placed on residential buildings—providing some room for everyday living activities to continue.

However, insiders disclosed that despite the measured approach, there were attempts to resist the enforcement, leading to the arrest of 20 individuals.