The Lagos State House of Assembly has proposed relocating residents displaced from several waterfront communities in Lagos to a new settlement in Epe Local Government Area.
The recommendation followed the adoption of a report presented by the Assembly’s standing committee on rules and business concerning the demolition of structures in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro waterfront communities.
In December 2025, the Lagos State Government began demolishing what it described as “illicit structures” in settlements located near the Third Mainland Bridge, an exercise that left many residents homeless and displaced.
The demolition sparked protests from affected residents, who petitioned the Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, urging the legislature to intervene.
Following the complaints, lawmakers directed that the exercise be temporarily suspended while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the demolition was conducted.
Presenting the committee’s report during plenary, the chairman of the panel, Noheem Adams, said the committee held five separate meetings with the petitioners and conducted visits to the affected communities alongside relevant government agencies.
According to Adams, the demolition resulted in the destruction of homes, loss of property and the displacement of long-time residents.
The committee noted that many families in the affected areas have lived along the waterfront for decades and depend largely on fishing as their primary source of livelihood.
Lawmakers also observed that living conditions for many of the displaced residents have worsened significantly since the demolition exercise.
As part of its recommendations, the Assembly urged the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to verify the enumeration report submitted by the Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon communities.
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The committee further recommended that the state government relocate the affected residents to a proposed low-cost housing estate to be constructed in Agbowa, located within Epe Local Government Area.
Lawmakers suggested that the relocation site should allow residents to continue their fishing activities, which remain central to the economic survival of many households from the waterfront communities.
In addition, the committee called on the government to engage the Oloto of the Otto family in the planned development of a “Water City” project and to recognise the family as the original owners of the land where the communities are located.
Earlier in February 2026, the Lagos State Government announced plans to invest about $10 million in the Water City project, which authorities say is intended to modernise fishing settlements and improve living conditions within the coastal communities.
The Assembly’s recommendations are expected to guide further government action as discussions continue over the future of the affected waterfront settlements and the welfare of displaced residents.