Lagos Assembly Blocks Makoko Demolitions

Following a meeting with displaced Makoko residents, the Lagos State House of Assembly has instructed all relevant government ministries and agencies to suspend demolition activities in the community with immediate effect. 

The meeting, held on Monday, was convened to address concerns arising from the demolition exercise in Makoko and Oworonshoki communities.

Leading the meeting, the Majority Leader of the House, Noheem Adams, who also chairs the House Committee on Makoko Demolition, ordered all ministries and agencies involved to stop all demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Afon, and Shogunro communities.

Adams assured residents that members of the state assembly would visit the affected areas to conduct an on-the-spot assessment to determine the exact setbacks being enforced by the government.

He said the community leaders would also be elected to serve as members of a task force committee to be constituted for the exercise.

The lawmaker stated that while the state government would continue to protect lives and property, it would not ignore the dangers associated with living under high-tension power lines.

The lawmakers also expressed displeasure with the Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Bayo Adefuye, over the distribution of foodstuffs to residents displaced by the demolitions in Makoko.

According to the House, the immediate need of the affected residents was shelter, not food palliatives.

Speaking at the meeting, the Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, said the state government had consistently engaged Makoko residents on its ongoing regeneration plan for the community.

He explained that the government had no intention of wiping out Makoko, adding that the demolition exercise had been stopped.

According to Babatunde, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has earmarked $2m for the development of Makoko, stressing that the community would remain as part of Lagos State.

“Makoko will remain there because it is part of Lagos history,” he said.

He also assured that residents affected by the demolition would be duly compensated. Naija News understands that some community leaders at the meeting emphasised that they no longer wanted any non-governmental organisation to represent them, expressing readiness to engage directly with the state government.

They appealed to the government to completely stop the demolition exercise in Makoko.

Lagos State officials explained that the demolitions were carried out for safety and urban renewal reasons.

They said all structures built within 100 metres of high-tension transmission lines crossing the lagoon were marked for removal.