The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended that residents displaced by the demolition of waterfront communities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Sogunro be relocated to the Agbowa area of Epe.
The recommendation followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Rules and Business during plenary on Tuesday. The report was presented after lawmakers reviewed a petition titled “Urgent Appeal Regarding Ongoing Mass Forced Eviction and Illegal Demolition Threatening Tens of Thousands in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro Communities,” addressed to the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Noheem Adams, said the committee reached its conclusions after holding five meetings with petitioners and conducting an oversight visit involving government officials, agencies, and representatives of the affected communities.
The committee observed that the demolition exercise carried out by the state government displaced many residents, including women, children, and the elderly, while homes and personal properties were destroyed. Lawmakers also noted that residents of the affected communities depend largely on fishing and have historically lived on the water due to the nature of their occupation.
According to the report, living conditions in Makoko and neighbouring settlements deteriorated after the demolition, raising environmental, health, and safety concerns for the displaced residents.
Based on its findings, the Assembly recommended that Babajide Sanwo-Olu direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to vet the enumeration report submitted by the affected communities to determine the number of residents requiring relocation.
Lawmakers also proposed the construction of a low-cost housing estate in Agbowa, where displaced residents could be resettled while continuing 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 reflected the official position of the Assembly.
The recommendation follows a controversial demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State Government between December 2025 and January 2026 targeting structures described as illegal in the waterfront communities near the Third Mainland Bridge.
The operation displaced thousands of residents in the historic lagoon settlements and sparked protests from community members and civil society groups, who criticised the demolitions as heavy-handed and called for clear plans for resettlement and compensation.
