Lagos Assembly Proposes Relocation Of Makoko Residents To Epe

The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended relocating residents affected by the demolition of waterfront communities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro to the Agbowa area of Epe. The recommendation followed the adoption of a report presented by the House Committee on Rules and Business during plenary on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Assembly’s Public Affairs Directorate.

The resolution was 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, 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.

Lawmakers noted that the demolition carried out by the state government displaced many residents, including elderly people, women and children, while homes and properties were destroyed. The committee also highlighted that the affected communities have long depended on fishing as their main livelihood, which explains their traditional settlement on the waterfront.

According to the report, living conditions in Makoko and nearby communities worsened significantly after the demolitions, raising environmental, health and safety concerns. Based on its findings, the Assembly urged Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, to direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to review 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, stating that the position released by the Public Affairs Directorate reflects the official stance of the Assembly.

The recommendation follows a controversial demolition exercise conducted by the Lagos State Government between late December 2025 and early January 2026 targeting what authorities described as “illicit structures” in the waterfront settlements near the Third Mainland Bridge. The operation displaced thousands of residents, many of whom rely on fishing for survival, and sparked protests from community members and civil society groups calling for clear resettlement plans and compensation.