Lagos Assembly proposes relocationof Makoko residents, others to Agbowa
Lagos State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution urging the state government to relocate residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro communities to Agbowa near Epe. This follows a petition
Lagos State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution urging the state government to relocate residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro communities to Agbowa near Epe.
This follows a petition over the demolition carried out in the areas, which displaced residents and destroyed properties.
The House Committee on Rules and Business, which investigated the matter, found that the communities depended on fishing for livelihood and faced environmental and health hazards after demolition.
The resolution followed a petition addressed to Speaker Mudashiru Obasa titled: “Urgent Appeal Regarding Ongoing Mass Forced Eviction and Illegal Demolition Threatening Tens of Thousands in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro Communities.”
Presenting the report during plenary at the Committee of the Whole, the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Noheem Adams, said the committee arrived at its conclusion after engaging the petitioners in five meetings and conducting an oversight visit with relevant government officials, agencies and representatives of the affected communities.
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The committee said the demolition undertaken by the state government resulted in the displacement of residents, including the elderly, the ill, women and children, as well as destruction of homes and other properties.
The committee further observed that the affected waterfront communities depended on fishing as their primary source of livelihood and had historically lived on the water due to the nature of their occupation.
The committee noted that following the demolition, living conditions within Makoko and surrounding areas deteriorated, leading to environmental and health hazards, as well as heightened safety and security concerns.
Based on its findings, the committee recommended that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, should direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to vet the enumeration report submitted by Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon communities.
The committee further recommended that the government should relocate the remaining residents of Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon to a proposed low-cost housing estate to be built in Agbowa area of the state, where they could continue their fishing activities.
In addition, the committee advised that the government should involve the Oloto of Otto Family in the building of the Water City Project, recognising them as the original owners of the land.
