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 the Agbowa area of Epe in Lagos State.
A statement obtained by PUNCH Online from the Assembly’s Public Affairs Directorate indicated that the recommendation followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Rules and Business during plenary on Tuesday.
The resolution was in response to a petition addressed to 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, explained that the Committee arrived at its conclusions after engaging the petitioners in five separate meetings and conducting an oversight visit with relevant government officials, agencies, and representatives of the affected communities,” the statement read.
The demolition exercise carried out by the state government displaced many residents, including the elderly, women, and children, while homes and properties were destroyed. The committee noted that these waterfront communities rely heavily on fishing as their primary source of livelihood, historically living on the water due to the nature of their occupation.
Living conditions in Makoko and surrounding areas reportedly deteriorated significantly after the demolition, resulting in environmental and health concerns as well as heightened safety risks.
Based on these findings, lawmakers recommended that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to vet the enumeration report submitted by the Makoko, Sogunro, and Oko‑Agbon communities.
“The Committee further recommended that the government relocate the remaining residents of Makoko, Sogunro and Oko‑Agbon to a proposed low-cost housing estate to be constructed in Agbowa area of the State, where they can continue their fishing activities,” the statement added.
The Special Adviser on Research, Media and Documentation to the Speaker, Adeshina Oyetayo, confirmed the development to PUNCH Online on Wednesday.
This recommendation comes after a controversial demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State Government in late December 2025 and early January 2026, targeting “illicit structures” in Makoko, Oko‑Agbon, and Sogunro, near the Third Mainland Bridge. The operation displaced thousands of residents in these historic lagoon settlements, many of whom depend on fishing.
The demolition led to protests from community members and civil society groups, who described the operation as heavy-handed and demanded clear plans for resettlement and compensation.
