Makoko demolition: Lagos Assembly proposes relocation of residents to Epe

The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended the relocation of the  displaced residents of Makoko waterfront in Yaba, to the Epe area of the state.

Recall that in December 2025, hundreds of residents within the Makoko fishing communities were sent packing following the decision of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration to demolish the area, citing insecurity and threat to lives, as some of the floating makeshift buildings that housed the residents were under high tension power cable.

The recommendation to move them to Epe was made after the assembly adopted the report of its standing committee on rules and business, regarding the demolition in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro communities.

Read also: Makoko: Life on edge, as govt halts demolition, residents still in fear

The affected residents had protested the demolition exercise and petitioned Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos Assembly, who promised to look into the matter.

The legislature had called for the suspension of the exercise while promising to investigate the matter.

Noheem Adams, chairman of the House  Committee set up to examine the issue,  said, on Wednesday, that the panel engaged the petitioners in five separate meetings and visited the communities with government officials and agencies.

According to Adams,  the demolition exercise resulted in the destruction of homes, property and displacement of residents.

The committee said the affected communities depend on fishing fora survival and have been residing in the waterfront communities for decades.

The committee said since the flattening, the living conditions of residents have deteriorated.

The committee recommended that Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, direct the special adviser on E-GIS to vet the enumeration report submitted by the Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon communities.

Read also: Makoko demolition is not new: The ghosts of Maroko still lingers 

It also recommended that the state government relocate the affected residents to a proposed low-cost housing estate, to be constructed in the Agbowa area of the state, where they can continue their fishing activities.

The committee also asked the state government to engage the Oloto of the Otto family in the construction of the water city project and recognise the family as original owners of the land.

In February 2026, the Lagos government announced plans to invest $10 million for the water city project aimed at modernising the fishing community.