The Lagos State House of Assembly has stepped in to halt ongoing demolition activities in parts of Makoko, following growing outcry from residents affected by the exercise.
At a stakeholders’ meeting held on Monday, lawmakers met directly with community members from Makoko and Oworonshoki to address tensions triggered by recent demolitions. The session was convened to find immediate solutions and restore calm in the affected areas.
Chairing the meeting, the Majority Leader of the House, Noheem Adams, who heads the Assembly’s ad hoc committee on the Makoko demolition, directed all relevant ministries, departments and agencies to suspend further demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Afon and Shogunro with immediate effect.
Adams assured residents that lawmakers would conduct physical inspections of the affected communities to properly assess the government’s setback policies and understand how they were being implemented on the ground. He added that community representatives would be selected to participate in a task force that would oversee the assessment process.
While reaffirming the state government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, Adams noted that authorities could not overlook the serious risks posed by residential structures located beneath high-tension power lines.
During the meeting, lawmakers also criticised the Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Bayo Adefuye, over the distribution of food items to displaced residents. The House stressed that emergency shelter, rather than food palliatives, was the most pressing need of those affected by the demolitions.
Providing further clarification, the Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, said the state government had maintained ongoing dialogue with Makoko residents as part of its broader regeneration agenda. He dismissed claims that the government intended to eliminate the waterfront community, confirming that demolition activities had already been suspended.
Babatunde revealed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved a $2 million allocation for the development of Makoko, emphasising that the community remains an integral part of Lagos State.
“Makoko is here to stay. It is part of the history and identity of Lagos,” he said.
He also assured residents that those impacted by the demolitions would receive appropriate compensation. Meanwhile, several community leaders at the meeting made it clear that they no longer wished to be represented by non-governmental organisations, expressing a preference for direct engagement with the state government.
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They urged authorities to permanently discontinue the demolition exercise and work collaboratively with residents to ensure sustainable development in Makoko.