The Lagos State House of Assembly has ordered the immediate suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and mounting public concern over the exercise.
The directive was announced on Tuesday, 3 February, 2026, by Mr. Noheem Adams, Chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium.
Adams called on all relevant state ministries and agencies to halt demolition works with immediate effect and assured affected residents that compensation would be paid for demolished properties.
“On behalf of the Speaker and all 40 members of the House, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” Adams was quoted as saying.
He also demanded transparency in the exercise, calling for the release of the full list of members of the taskforce involved and the criteria used for their engagement. Adams stressed that residents of the affected communities must be fully involved and carried along in all processes.
“We want to see the list of the taskforce and the criteria for their engagement because the residents must be duly involved,” he said.
Addressing residents directly, Adams gave assurances that the Assembly would protect their interests. “As your representatives, we assure you that demolitions will stop and that compensation will be provided for all those whose properties have been affected,” he added.
Also speaking, Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, a member of the ad hoc committee, emphasised the need for clear and timely communication, noting that residents slated for relocation or redevelopment should be adequately informed of government plans ahead of time.
Meanwhile, Mr. Babatunde Olajide, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on E-GIS and Urban Renewal, disclosed that a sum of $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 for the transformation of Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He confirmed that enumeration of affected properties is currently ongoing and reiterated the state government’s commitment to handling the matter with a human face, prioritising safety and fair compensation for residents.
Reacting to the development, the Baale of Makoko, Mr. Yusuf Sagra, described the Assembly’s intervention as a “word of peace,” while another community leader, Mr. Orioye Ogungbure, commended the government for what he termed its “democratic responsiveness.”
Source: Lagos Reporters
