The Lagos State House of Assembly and residents of Makoko have reached a compromise pending the final resolution of the demolition of homes and properties in the area.
On Monday, the Lagos Assembly conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the demolition exercise. Following several deliberations, a five-point agreement was reached on Tuesday during a stakeholder meeting attended by Makoko residents, representatives of the Lagos State government, and the House of Assembly.
The agreement, read by Mr. Noheem Adams, Chairman of the Assembly’s ad-hoc committee set up by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, includes the following:
Makoko residents will halt all building activities on the demolished properties.
A 10-member committee will be established to deliberate on compensation for displaced residents.
The State government’s Special Adviser on E-GIS and Urban Renewal, Dr. Babatunde Olajide, will define the boundary for the regeneration plan.
The water-city regeneration project will be implemented in Makoko.
There are no plans for the elimination of the Makoko community.
Dr. Olajide explained that the Lagos State government has a two-pronged agenda: to start the water-city project for the benefit of Makoko residents and to address long-standing sanitation challenges as part of the community’s regeneration.
For Makoko leaders—including Baales Sogunro and Okun-Agbon, as well as youth and student representatives—the government’s proposals were welcomed.
The community stressed the need for compensation for those affected by the demolition, immediate accommodation plans for residents living on boats or in inadequate housing, and clarity on the boundaries of the government’s regeneration plan.
Following discussions, both parties agreed that the first step would be to establish the compensation committee to address the community’s concerns before other plans are implemented.