Lagos Assembly wants Makoko residents moved to Epe

The Lagos State House of Assembly has proposed relocating displaced residents of Makoko, Sogunro, and Oko-Agbon to Epe, but community members themselves are divided on whether that is what they actually want.

An ad hoc committee set up by Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa concluded its investigation into demolitions across the three waterfront communities on Thursday, March 5, after weeks of hearings, protests, and international attention on the fate of one of Lagos’ oldest and most densely populated informal settlements.

The Alase of the Egun Community in Makoko, Francis Agoyon, backed permanent relocation. The Baale of Makoko also supported relocation, but asked the government to clearly state where displaced residents would be moved and to define the exact boundaries of the demolition zone covering all three communities.

Sogunro, however, wants cash. Community representative Bola Ayande said residents preferred financial compensation, proposing that each displaced resident receive about ₦10 million, arguing that an average bamboo house in the community costs approximately ₦4 million to build.

The split frustrated lawmakers. Assembly Majority Leader Noheem Adams expressed concern over what he described as the shifting positions of community representatives, recalling that the communities had earlier agreed on compensation before later changing their stance, a development he described as a setback to the reconciliation process.

The Vice Chairman of the Fishermen Association, Tobi Kalejaiye, captured the mood on the ground: “The people are jittery about the situation. Whatever the traditional rulers say will be the final decision.”

There is also a complicating factor. LABCA officials informed the committee during the meeting that some of the demolished structures had already been rebuilt, suggesting that whatever resolution the Assembly reaches, enforcement on the ground remains a separate problem entirely.

The Lagos government has confirmed that $2 million was earmarked as far back as 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city, a vision that has been discussed for years without a clear timeline or community buy-in.

The committee’s findings now go to Speaker Obasa and the full 40-member House for deliberation. No date has been set for a plenary decision.