RESIDENTS’ OUTCRY PROMPTS LAGOS LAWMAKERS’ VISIT TO MAKOKO
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The Makoko waterfront settlement was filled with tension and emotion on Monday as residents and schoolchildren pleaded for government intervention during an on-site assessment by members of the Lagos State House of Assembly over ongoing evictions.
Lawmakers from the House Committee on Rules and Business visited the community in response to rising concerns over forced demolitions affecting Makoko, Oko Agbon, and Sogunro waterfront settlements.
Residents, including members of the Makoko Gunuvi Students Association, greeted the delegation by singing the national anthem and holding placards reading messages such as, “Our community is our home, help us protect it,” while urging authorities to halt further demolitions.
The dispute centers on a high-voltage power transmission line running through the waterfront. The government maintains that no structures should be built beneath the cables for safety reasons. Residents, however, claim that demolitions have extended well beyond the mandated 100-metre safety corridor, with some buildings up to 522 metres away affected.
The Baale of Oko Agbon, Chief Emmanuel Shemede, described the situation as a humanitarian crisis, revealing that many residents, including women and children, are now sleeping in their canoes. “We are not fighting the government; we are only seeking a solution,” he said.
Another community leader, Kojo Phineas, called for immediate relief, compensation, and temporary shelter for affected families. He also alleged that some residents experienced intimidation, brutality, and theft during the demolition process.
The inspection was briefly interrupted when a dispute among residents escalated, prompting lawmakers to bypass a section of the waterfront to avoid further conflict and continue their assessment elsewhere.
The delegation included the Chairman of Yaba Local Government, Hon. Adebayo Adefuye, along with officials from relevant government agencies.
After the visit, Hon. Noheem Adams, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, urged residents to remain calm and announced a temporary suspension of further demolition pending the Assembly’s review. “This visit is strictly to assess the situation on the ground,” he said. “We appeal to everyone to maintain the status quo. If the government respects the decision of the House of Assembly, the people must also respect it.”
Residents remain unsettled by the uncertainty. A student leader, Agbola, emphasized that Makoko encompasses several interconnected waterfront communities whose history, culture, and livelihoods are inseparable from the lagoon. He noted that residents are demanding the rebuilding of demolished homes and adequate compensation for displaced families.
Lawmakers are expected to deliberate on their findings at a scheduled Lagos State House of Assembly meeting on Tuesday, February 10, where a final decision regarding the affected waterfront communities is anticipated.
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