Lagos Assembly recommends relocation of Makoko residents to Epe

2026-03-11 - 15:07

By Olasunkanmi Akoni The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended that residents affected by the demolition of waterfront communities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Sogunro be relocated to a proposed low-cost housing estate in the Agbowa area of Epe. The decision follows petitions from residents seeking intervention after the State Government carried out demolition of structures in these communities last year. The Assembly had earlier directed a temporary halt to the demolition pending review of the matter. A statement from the Assembly’s Public Affairs Directorate noted that the recommendation came after the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Rules and Business during plenary on Tuesday. The report, presented by Committee Chairman Noheem Adams, was based on five separate meetings with petitioners and an oversight visit involving relevant government officials, agencies, and representatives of the affected communities. The committee noted that the demolition displaced many residents, including the elderly, women, and children, while destroying homes and properties. It observed that the affected communities rely heavily on fishing as their primary livelihood and have traditionally lived on the water due to the nature of their occupation. Following investigations, the Assembly recommended that the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to verify the enumeration report submitted by the affected communities. It also urged that remaining residents be relocated to the proposed housing estate in Agbowa, where they can continue their fishing activities. The recommendation comes after a demolition exercise in late December 2025 and early January 2026 targeting structures in Makoko, Oko‐Agbon, and Sogunro near the Third Mainland Bridge for safety reasons. The exercise prompted protests from community members and civil society organisations, who called for clear resettlement and compensation plans.