The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday ordered an immediate halt to demolitions in Makoko and adjoining waterfront communities in Yaba Local Government Area and pledged to compensate residents whose properties have already been destroyed.
The decision followed a meeting between lawmakers and representatives of affected communities at the Assembly Complex in Alausa, Ikeja. The House acted after receiving a petition from residents, prompting the legislature to intervene.
Chairman of the ad hoc committee set up by the Speaker, Noheem Adams, announced the resolutions reached at the meeting, directing all ministries, departments and agencies involved in the demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro to suspend the exercise until further notice.
Adams said residents whose homes and properties had already been demolished would be compensated and stressed that any future task force must include representatives of the affected communities.
“All demolitions in Makoko and its waterfront communities should stop with immediate effect,” Adams said. “As your representatives, we assure you that the demolition will be stopped and that all those whose properties have been demolished will be compensated.”
Speaking on behalf of the communities, Isaac Gunmayon, a traditional leader, welcomed the Assembly’s intervention, saying the resolutions reflected the concerns raised by residents.
The demolitions, which began in December 2025, have drawn criticism from human rights groups, lawyers and residents, who say the exercise displaced several families. The Lagos State government has defended the action, saying it was carried out in the interest of the waterfront communities and forms part of a broader regeneration plan.
The state government has said it plans to spend about $10 million on the redevelopment of Makoko.
