The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended that residents displaced from the Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro waterfront communities be relocated to Agbowa in Epe Local Government Area of the state.
The proposal followed the adoption of a report by the assembly’s standing committee on rules and business, which reviewed the demolition of structures in the affected communities.
In December 2025, the Lagos State Government began pulling down what it described as “illicit structures” in waterfront settlements located near the Third Mainland Bridge. The exercise led to the displacement of many residents.
Following the demolitions, affected residents staged protests and submitted a petition to the Speaker of the assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.
The legislature subsequently asked the state government to halt the demolition exercise temporarily while it investigated the matter.
While presenting the committee’s findings during plenary, the chairman, Noheem Adams, said the panel held five meetings with the petitioners and conducted visits to the affected areas alongside relevant government officials and agencies.
Adams noted that the demolition exercise destroyed several homes and properties, forcing many residents out of their communities.
According to the report, most residents rely on fishing as their primary source of livelihood and have lived in the waterfront settlements for several decades.
The committee added that living conditions in the communities had worsened significantly since the demolitions.
Among its recommendations, the panel urged Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, to direct the special adviser on E-GIS to review and verify the enumeration report submitted by residents of Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon.
It further suggested that the displaced residents be moved to a proposed low-cost housing estate to be developed in the Agbowa area, where they would still be able to sustain their fishing activities.
The committee also advised the state government to engage the Oloto of the Otto family in the planned water city project and acknowledge the family as the original owners of the land.
Earlier in February 2026, the Lagos State Government disclosed plans to invest about $10 million in the water city initiative aimed at modernising the fishing communities in the area.
