•Assembly orders immediate halt, assures compensation
By Ebunoluwa Sessou, Elizabeth Osayande & Ifunanya Ndigwe
FOR residents of Makoko, Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos, the pain of demolition has not faded. Weeks after their homes were pulled down, many are still counting losses that go far beyond property; lives, livelihoods and their children’s education have all been shattered.
Although the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly has helped to calm tensions, displaced residents say their suffering continues, with no clear relief in sight.
Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly, yesterday, ordered the immediate stoppage of the ongoing demolition of waterfront structures in the Makoko community. The directive was issued during a stakeholders’ meeting between members of the Assembly and residents of the Makoko community at the Assembly complex.
Several victims told Vanguard that since the demolition, they have been forced to sleep in boats, exposed to rain and scorching sun, after losing their homes during the Lagos State Government taskforce operation.
It was gathered that about 12 lives were lost and properties worth unquantifiable sums destroyed during the demolition exercise.
My family has been living in a boat — Juliana
For Mrs. Juliana, a mother of 10, the demolition brought her world to a halt. She said her family has been rendered homeless, while two of her sons are currently hospitalised.
“What will I live for again?” she asked in tears. “The demolition left us with nothing. We couldn’t even recover a pin because it happened suddenly. Since then, we have been sleeping in boats, under a billboard.”
We risk extinction — Prof. Olaoluwa
Spokesman of the Eegu General Assembly, Prof. Senayo Olaoluwa, warned that the continued demolition of riverine settlements could erase entire communities.
“These demolitions make us feel that Eegu people and other riverine communities are being targeted for extinction,” he said.
A peaceful protest turned into a nightmare— Jude Ojo
Another resident, Jude Ojo, recounted how a peaceful protest by residents escalated into chaos.
“We came in peace to seek redress and discuss a better way to handle what we believe is an unnecessary and illegal demolition and forced eviction. Instead, we were met with tear gas,” he said.
According to him, one protester was shot in the leg. “He bled so much he couldn’t walk again and had to be carried by two people to safety before being rushed to the hospital.”
My family is scattered — Ogunusi
Ogunusi Adewale said his house was demolished on November 27, 2025, marking the peak of a struggle that has lasted over six years.
“I have been sleeping outside since the incident. My home is gone and my family is scattered,” he said.
“People should be treated as human beings, not animals. The demolitions destroyed over 3,000 homes and displaced more than 10,000 people. Mothers with babies are now living in canoes or on water. Schools, clinics and churches were lost. The state government wants to wipe us out completely from our ancestral homes.”
The demolition did not stop — Israel Idowu
Student Coordinator of the Makoko Waterfront Community, Israel Idowu, said the demolition was neither accidental nor unexpected.
“The governor had spoken openly about turning Makoko into a tourist centre and has also mentioned the issue of power lines here,” he said.
“We were clearly told that demolition would stop. But after that meeting, the bulldozers came back. When we asked questions, we were told it was an order from above.”
Idowu described the situation as devastating, alleging that a pregnant woman died after bleeding profusely because access to medical help was restricted.
“Many residents are now sleeping in boats, canoes, churches and open spaces. Children have stopped going to school. Fishing, our main source of livelihood, has stopped. Small shops that families depend on have been destroyed,” he added.
Livelihoods wiped out in Owode Onirin
Chairman of the Owode Motor Spare Parts Market, Abiodun Ahmed, said demolitions in Owode Onirin wiped out livelihoods built over decades.
“In one day, traders lost their shops, spare parts, vehicles and everything they worked for. Some people lost businesses they had built for decades,” he said.
Ahmed alleged that traders were attacked by security operatives and government officials, with some arrested and vehicles seized.
Lagos Assembly orders immediate halt, assures compensation
Chairman of the ad-hoc committee set up by the Speaker, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, Mr. Noheem Adams, disclosed that the resolution of the meeting was to direct the state government to halt further demolition activities until further notice.
Recall that hundreds of displaced Makoko residents had last week staged a protest at the Assembly over the demolition exercise. The protest reportedly created tension and led to the arrest of some activists, who are currently standing trial, while many of the protesters accused the state police command of assaulting them during the protest. The state government had explained that the demolition was carried out on safety grounds, noting that some structures were built under high-tension power cables.
Reading out the committee’s resolution after the stakeholders’ meeting at Alausa, Ikeja, Adams, who is also the Leader of the House, said: “On behalf of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Obasa, and all the 40 members of the House, we are directing that all ministries should stop work on all demolitions. I repeat, all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice.
“We also want to see the list of the taskforce that was constituted because we want residents to be duly involved and carried along. There should be a clear schedule and criteria for those involved.
“We have directed the ministry to stop demolition in Makoko forthwith. The plan to constitute a Taskforce that will look into the matter should have a human face, involving members of the affected community, we want to see the list so as to ascertain their involvement, we are assuring you that demolition will stop and those whose houses were demolished will get compensation.
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we assure you that demolitions will stop and that compensation will be paid to all those whose properties have been affected,” he said.
Adams further asked the audience if they were satisfied with the committee’s intervention, to which the residents responded with a thunderous chorus of “We are satisfied.”
Earlier, while interrogating the Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Mr. Bayo Adefuye, a member of the committee and Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Strategy, Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, stressed the importance of communication.
“The most important thing is communication, even if you are not physically present. Those you intend to help must understand the plan you have for them,” Ogundipe said.
Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on E-GIS and Urban Renewal, Dr. Babatunde Olajide, had said during a press briefing on Monday that the state government would compensate residents whose properties were demolished.
Olajide disclosed that the governor had since 2021 set aside $2 million for the redevelopment of the Makoko waterfront to meet international standards, adding that the government was working on a large water city project for the community.
The Baale of Makoko Shogunro, Iwaya LCDA, Yusuf Sagra, said: “We are here to explain our petition to members of the House on what is happening in our communities, and we are happy. They have given us a word of peace and we are satisfied.”
Also speaking, Orioye Ogungbure said: “I am happy with this deliberation. I did not expect it.”
If the government continues to listen to people whenever they have grievances, it will be good for democracy.”
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