By Peter Dansu The Lagos State House of Assembly has ordered an immediate stop to demolitions in Makoko and adjoining communities in Yaba L...
By Peter Dansu
The Lagos State House of Assembly has ordered an immediate stop to demolitions in Makoko and adjoining communities in Yaba Local Government Area, promising to compensate residents whose properties have already been destroyed.
The decision followed a meeting on Tuesday at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, between lawmakers and representatives of the affected communities. The meeting was convened after the Assembly received a petition from residents impacted by the demolition exercise.
Mr Noheem Adams, Chairman of the ad hoc committee set up by the Speaker of the House, announced the resolutions, emphasizing that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies involved must suspend the demolition activities until further notice.
He stated, “All demolitions in Makoko and its waterfront communities should stop with immediate effect until further notice. Any task force to be constituted must involve community representatives and engage them adequately. As your representatives, we assure you that the demolition will be stopped and that all those whose properties have been demolished will be compensated.”
Speaking on behalf of the affected residents, Mr Isaac Gunmayon, Baale of one of the communities, expressed gratitude to the Assembly, noting that the intervention had given the communities renewed hope. “They invited us to explain what happened, and we discussed everything. The resolutions reached by the House reflect our wishes, and we are happy with the way they listened to us and gave us hope,” he said.
The demolitions, which began in December 2025, had sparked widespread criticism from human rights groups, lawyers, and residents who condemned the displacement of several families. The Lagos State Government, however, maintained that the exercise was in the interest of the waterfront communities and said it plans to spend about $10 million on the regeneration of Makoko.
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