- Lagos State lawmakers had conducted an on-the-spot assessment of Makoko, Oko Agbon, and Sogunro following forced evictions
- Residents reported demolitions extending beyond safety zones, leaving many homeless and demanding compensation
- The House Committee on Rules and Business had temporarily suspended further demolitions pending legislative review
The waterfront settlement of Makoko was filled with emotion on Monday as residents and schoolchildren appealed to the Lagos State government for urgent intervention amid ongoing demolitions in the area.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, drawn from the House Committee on Rules and Business, conducted an on-the-spot assessment of Makoko, Oko Agbon and Sogunro waterfront communities following rising concerns over forced evictions.
Residents, including members of the Makoko Gunuvi Students Association, received the lawmakers with songs and placards bearing messages such as “Our community is our home, help us protect it,” while imploring authorities to halt further demolition exercises.
At the centre of the dispute is a high-voltage power transmission line running through the waterfront. While government officials maintain that no structures should be built under the cables for safety reasons, residents allege that the demolitions have extended far beyond the 100-metre safety corridor, with some buildings reportedly destroyed as far as 522 metres away.
The Baale of Oko Agbon, Chief Emmanuel Shemede, described the situation as a humanitarian crisis, noting that many residents had been rendered homeless. “Many people are now homeless and are sleeping in their canoes, including women and children,” he said. “The government came and started demolishing our houses beyond what we agreed on. We are not fighting the government; we are only seeking a solution.”
Another community representative, Kojo Phineas, called for immediate relief for affected families, including compensation and temporary shelter, while alleging that some residents had suffered intimidation, brutality, and theft during the demolition process.
The inspection exercise was briefly disrupted after a disagreement among residents escalated, prompting lawmakers to avoid a particular section of the waterfront to prevent further tension. The delegation, which included the Chairman of Yaba Local Government Area, Hon. Adebayo Adefuye, alongside officials from relevant government agencies, continued their assessment elsewhere in the community.
Following the visit, Hon. Noheem Adams, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, appealed for calm and announced a temporary suspension of further demolitions pending the Assembly’s review. “We cannot take a decision today because this visit is strictly to assess the situation on the ground,” he said. “However, we are appealing to everyone that the status quo should be maintained. If the government respects the decision of the House of Assembly, the people must also respect it.”
For residents, the uncertainty remains deeply unsettling. Agbola, a student leader, emphasised the historical and cultural significance of Makoko, describing it as a network of interconnected waterfront communities whose livelihoods are closely tied to the lagoon. Residents are demanding rebuilding of demolished homes and adequate compensation for displaced families.
Lawmakers are scheduled to deliberate on their findings at a Lagos State House of Assembly meeting on Tuesday, 10 February, when a final decision on the future of the affected communities is expected.