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 a low‑cost housing estate in the Agbowa area of Epe.
A statement obtained by The Telegraph from the Assembly’s Public Affairs Directorate said the recommendation followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Rules and Business during plenary on Tuesday.
The resolution stems from 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.”
According to the statement, Committee Chairman Hon. Noheem Adams presented the report after the committee held five separate meetings with petitioners and conducted an oversight visit involving relevant government officials, agencies, and community representatives.
The statement noted that the demolition carried out by the state government displaced many residents, including the elderly, women, and children, while destroying homes and personal property. The committee also highlighted that the affected waterfront communities rely heavily on fishing for their livelihoods and have historically lived on the water due to the nature of their occupation.
The committee observed that living conditions in Makoko and surrounding areas deteriorated significantly following the demolition, raising environmental, health, and safety concerns.
Based on its findings, the lawmakers 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.
“The Committee further recommended that the government relocate the remaining residents of Makoko, Sogunro, and Oko‑Agbon to a proposed low-cost housing estate in Agbowa, 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 The Telegraph on Wednesday. “What you got from the Public Affairs Directorate is the position of the Lagos State House of Assembly,” he said.
The Assembly’s 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, many of whom rely on fishing, prompting protests from community members and civil society groups demanding resettlement plans and compensation.
