The Lagos State House of Assembly has proposed the relocation of residents from the Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro waterfront communities to Agbowa in Epe Local Government Area.
The recommendation followed the adoption of a report by the Assemblyās Standing Committee on Rules and Business, which investigated the demolition of structures in the affected communities.
In December 2025, the Lagos State Government began the demolition of what it described as illegal structures around areas adjoining the Third Mainland Bridge, an exercise that displaced many residents of the waterfront settlements.
The demolition sparked protests from affected residents, who subsequently petitioned the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, seeking the intervention of the legislature.
Following the petition, the Assembly called for a temporary halt to the demolition exercise while it commenced an inquiry into the matter.
Presenting the committeeās report during plenary, the chairman, Noheem Adams, explained that the panel held five separate meetings with the petitioners and also conducted visits to the communities alongside officials of relevant government agencies.
Adams noted that the demolition led to the destruction of homes and other property, leaving many residents displaced.
According to the committee, the communities have relied primarily on fishing for their livelihood and have lived in the waterfront areas for several decades. It added that living conditions in the settlements had worsened since the demolition.
As part of its recommendations, the committee urged the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to review and verify the enumeration report submitted by the Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro communities.
The lawmakers also proposed that the affected residents be relocated to a proposed low-cost housing estate to be developed in Agbowa, Epe, where they would be able to continue their fishing activities.
The committee also advised the state government to involve the Oloto of the Otto family in the development of the planned water city project and recognise the family as the original landowners.
The state government had earlier announced in February 2026 that it planned to invest about $10 million in the water city project aimed at modernising the fishing communities in the area.
Demolition: Lagos Assembly proposes relocation of Makoko residents to Epe
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