The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday directed an immediate stoppage of the ongoing demolition exercise at the Makoko Community waterfront and adjoining areas of the state.
The directive was disclosed by the Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee set up by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Hon. Noheem Adams.
The development followed protests by hundreds of displaced Makoko residents who stormed the Assembly complex last week to express opposition to the demolition exercise.
The protest reportedly heightened tension in the area and resulted in the arrest of some activists, who are currently standing trial.
The Lagos State Government had earlier justified the demolition, explaining that structures in the affected communities were built beneath high-tension power cables, posing serious safety risks.
Hon. Adams, who is also the Leader of the House, read the committee’s resolution shortly after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium within the Assembly premises in Alausa, Ikeja.
He said, “On behalf of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa and and on behalf of all 40 members of the House, we are directing that all ministries henceforth should stop work with all demolitions, I repeat, all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities should stop from today, all demolitions will start until further notice.
“As the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those taskforce and the criteria for those that we are inviting.
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those that their properties have been demolished.”
The House Leader later sought feedback from those present, asking, “So are you satisfied with the committee’s work or you are not satisfied?” to which the audience responded with a loud chorus of “We are satisfied.”
Earlier during the session, while questioning the Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Hon. Bayo Adefuye, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, emphasized the need for proper engagement with affected communities.
He said, “The most important point is that there should be communication even if you are not going there physically. Those you want to help must know the plan you have for them.”
Also speaking, the Governor’s Special Adviser on E-GIS and Urban Renewal, Dr. Babatunde Olajide, reiterated during a press briefing on Monday that the state government would compensate Makoko residents whose properties were demolished.
Dr. Olajide further revealed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had earmarked $2 million since 2021 for the redevelopment of the Makoko waterfront to international standards.
He noted that the government was already working on a large-scale water city project for the area, adding, “We have to do it with human face. We have been working on this since 2021.
“All those people who have been affected have to be compensated and we have the taskforce. We are in the process of enumeration but the first thing to do is to save the people. It is better to be wary than to be late.”
Leaders of the affected communities who attended the meeting stated that they were no longer interested in non-governmental organisations intervening in their affairs.
They expressed confidence in their ability to address their challenges, particularly with the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the Baale of Makoko, Shogunro, Iwaya LCDA, High Chief Yusuf Sagra, said, “We are here to explain to on our petition to members of the House on what is happening in our communities and we are happy, they have given us a word of peace and we are satisfied.”
Another community leader, Chief Orioye Ogungbure, also welcomed the outcome of the deliberations, saying, “I’m happy over this deliberation. I didn’t expect it. If government will continue to go this way whenever people have grievances, it will be okay. This is democracy, our government should continue to listen to the people.”
