Lagos assembly proposes relocation of displaced Makoko residents to Epe

The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended relocating residents displaced by the demolition of waterfront communities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro to the Agbowa area of Epe in Lagos.

The recommendation followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Rules and Business during plenary on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the Assembly’s Public Affairs Directorate, the resolution was said to have been prompted by a petition addressed to the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, titled “Urgent Appeal Regarding Ongoing Mass Forced Eviction and Illegal Demolition Threatening Tens of Thousands in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro Communities.”

Presenting the report during plenary at the Committee of the Whole, the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Noheem Adams, said the committee reached its conclusions after holding five separate meetings with petitioners and conducting an oversight visit alongside relevant government officials, agencies and representatives of the affected communities.

According to the statement, the demolition exercise carried out by the state government displaced many residents, including elderly people, women and children, while homes and properties were destroyed.

The committee noted that residents of the affected waterfront communities rely largely on fishing as their main source of livelihood and have historically lived on the water due to the nature of their occupation.

Lawmakers also observed that living conditions in Makoko and neighbouring areas deteriorated significantly after the demolition, leading to environmental and health concerns as well as increased safety risks.

Based on its findings, the committee recommended that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to verify the enumeration report submitted by the Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon communities.

It further advised that the government relocate the remaining residents to a proposed low-cost housing estate to be built in the Agbowa area of Epe, where they can continue their fishing activities.

The Special Adviser on Research, Media and Documentation to the Speaker, Adeshina Oyetayo, confirmed the development, noting that the statement from the Public Affairs Directorate reflects the official position of the Assembly.

The recommendation follows a controversial demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State Government between late December 2025 and early January 2026 targeting what authorities described as illicit structures in the Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro waterfront communities near the Third Mainland Bridge.

The operation displaced thousands of residents in the historic lagoon settlements, many of whom depend on fishing for their livelihoods. The demolitions sparked protests from community members and civil society organisations, who criticised the exercise as heavy-handed and called for clear plans for resettlement and compensation.