By Akinwale Kasali
Respite may have come for residents of Makoko, Oko Agbon and Sogunro whose houses were demolished by the Lagos State Government. The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended their relocation to Agbowa area of Epe, Lagos State.
The Assembly’s Public Affairs Directorate stated that the recommendation followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Rules and Business during Plenary on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the resolution followed a petition addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. 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 statement noted that the demolition exercise carried out by the state government displaced many residents, including the elderly, women and children, while homes and properties were destroyed.
According to the Committee, the affected waterfront communities depend largely on fishing as their primary source of livelihood and have historically lived on the water because of the nature of their occupation.
The committee also observed that living conditions in Makoko and the surrounding areas deteriorated significantly after the demolition, leading to environmental and health concerns as well as heightened safety risks.
Following the findings, it was recommended that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to 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, Speaker, Adeshina Oyetayo, confirmed the development.
The recommendation by the Assembly comes against the backdrop of a controversial demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State Government in late December 2025 and early January 2026, targeting “illicit structures” in the Makoko, Oko‑Agbon and Sogunro waterfront communities near the Third Mainland Bridge.
The demolition led to the displacement of thousands of residents, leading to widespread protest from community members and civil society groups who described the demolition as heavy‑handed and demanded clear plans for resettlement and compensation.
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