The Lagos State House of Assembly has suggested relocating residents of the Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Sogunro waterfront communities to Agbowa in the Epe Local Government Area after the recent demolition of structures along the waterfront.
This proposal followed the Assembly’s adoption of a report by its Committee on Rules and Business, which examined the demolition exercise that forced many residents out of their homes.
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In December 2025, the Lagos State Government began removing structures it described as illegal around areas close to the Third Mainland Bridge. The operation displaced numerous people who had lived in the waterfront communities for many years.
The action triggered protests from affected residents, who later submitted a petition to the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, requesting legislative intervention.
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Following the petition, lawmakers ordered a temporary halt to the demolitions and initiated an investigation into the issue.
During plenary, the committee chairman, Noheem Adams, presented the panel’s findings, revealing that the committee held five meetings with representatives of the affected communities and conducted inspection visits to the sites with officials from relevant government agencies.
According to the report, several homes and properties were destroyed during the demolitions, leaving many residents displaced and worsening living conditions in the settlements.
The committee also highlighted that the communities rely heavily on fishing as their main source of income and have occupied the waterfront areas for decades.
Among its recommendations, the Assembly urged the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to instruct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to review and confirm the enumeration report submitted by the Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Sogunro communities.
Lawmakers further suggested that displaced residents be moved to a planned low-cost housing estate in Agbowa, where they could continue their fishing activities.
The committee also advised the state government to include the Oloto of the Otto family in the development of the proposed water city project and to recognise the family as the original owners of the land.
Earlier in February 2026, the Lagos State Government announced plans to invest about $10 million in a water city project intended to modernise fishing communities in the area.
