The Lagos State House of Assembly has proposed relocating residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro waterfront communities to Agbowa in Epe Local Government Area following the demolition of structures in the areas.
The recommendation followed the adoption of a report by the House Standing Committee on Rules and Business, which investigated the demolition exercise that displaced several residents living in the waterfront communities.
The Lagos State Government had in December 2025 begun demolishing what it described as illegal structures located around areas adjoining the Third Mainland Bridge. The operation left many residents, some of whom had lived in the settlements for decades, displaced.
The demolitions triggered protests from affected residents, who later submitted a petition to the Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, seeking legislative intervention.
Following the petition, the Assembly ordered a temporary suspension of the demolition exercise and launched an inquiry into the matter.
Presenting the committee’s report during plenary, the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Noheem Adams, said the panel held five meetings with representatives of the affected communities. The committee also carried out inspection visits to the settlements alongside officials of relevant government agencies.
According to Adams, the demolition led to the destruction of several homes and properties, leaving many residents displaced and worsening living conditions within the affected communities.
The committee also observed that most residents depend on fishing as their primary source of livelihood and have maintained their presence in the waterfront areas for several decades.
As part of its recommendations, lawmakers urged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to review and verify the enumeration report submitted by the Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro communities.
The Assembly further proposed that displaced residents be relocated to a planned low-cost housing estate to be developed in Agbowa, Epe, where they would be able to continue their fishing activities.
In addition, the committee advised the state government to involve the Oloto of the Otto family in the proposed water city project and recognise the family as the original landowners of the area.
Earlier in February 2026, the Lagos State Government announced plans to invest about $10 million in a water city project aimed at modernising fishing communities around the waterfront.