Lagos Assembly Recommends Resettlement of Makoko Waterfront Residents to Agbowa in Epe

The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended that residents of Makoko and nearby waterfront settlements be relocated to Agbowa in Epe Local Government Area following the demolition of structures in parts of the communities.

The proposal emerged after lawmakers adopted the report presented by the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Rules and Business, which reviewed the circumstances surrounding the demolition exercise carried out in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro waterfront areas.

In its report, the committee advised the state government to resettle affected residents in a planned low-cost housing scheme expected to be developed in the Agbowa area of Epe. Lawmakers noted that the location could allow many of the displaced residents, most of whom depend on fishing, to continue their traditional means of livelihood.

The committee further urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to instruct the Special Adviser on the Lagos State Geographic Information System (E-GIS) to authenticate the enumeration data submitted by leaders of the Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro communities. The verification, lawmakers said, would help ensure that only genuine residents are captured in any resettlement arrangement.

The recommendation follows a demolition operation conducted in December 2025 in parts of the waterfront settlements close to the Third Mainland Bridge. Authorities had described the affected structures as illegal developments. The exercise led to the displacement of many residents, some of whom had lived in the communities for several decades.

As part of its inquiry, the Assembly’s committee engaged with community representatives and government officials and also carried out visits to the affected areas to evaluate the extent of the demolition. Lawmakers observed that numerous homes and properties were destroyed during the exercise, leaving several families in difficult circumstances.

Makoko is widely recognised as one of Lagos’ most prominent waterfront communities. The settlement, which has existed for decades, is largely inhabited by fishing families living in structures built both on land and on stilts over the lagoon.

Although the Assembly has put forward the relocation proposal as a possible solution for displaced residents, its implementation will depend on the decision and action of the Lagos State Government. The proposal is expected to generate discussions among community leaders, policy makers and civil society organisations regarding the future of waterfront settlements in Lagos.

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