The Lagos State Assembly has called on ministries to immediately stop demolitions in Makoko and surrounding communities, assuring residents that the government has no plans to erase the historic settlement.
The directive came after a meeting led by House Majority Leader Noheem Adams, who also chairs the House Committee on Makoko Demolition.
During the session, Adams emphasised that the assembly would conduct on-site assessments to verify government interventions and identify necessary support for affected residents.
He announced that community leaders would be elected to serve on a new Taskforce Committee to engage directly with authorities.
The lawmakers criticised local council efforts to distribute palliatives, noting that displaced residents urgently need shelter, not food donations.
Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, reaffirmed that the state government has engaged Makoko residents on its regeneration plan and allocated $2 million for community development.
He stressed that compensation would be provided to those affected.
Residents insisted on direct dialogue with the government, rejecting representation by NGOs.
The State officials maintained that demolitions were carried out for safety and urban renewal, targeting structures within 100 metres of high-voltage transmission lines over the lagoon.
The assembly’s intervention offers a temporary reprieve for Makoko residents amid ongoing tensions over forced evictions and urban redevelopment projects.
