Anxiety has enveloped residents of Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon communities in Lagos following the conclusion of deliberations by an ad-hoc committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly set up to investigate the demolition of structures in the affected areas.
The committee, constituted by the Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, concluded its assignment on Thursday, March 5, 2026, after receiving submissions from representatives of the three communities.
Naijaonpoint reports that during the sitting, stakeholders presented divergent views on the issues of compensation and relocation for residents displaced by the demolition exercise.
Speaking before the committee, the Alase of the Egun Community in Makoko, Francis Agoyon, advocated the permanent relocation of residents affected by the demolition rather than the payment of financial compensation.
Agoyon argued that relocation would offer a more sustainable solution for displaced residents.
Similarly, the Baale of Makoko supported the relocation proposal, stating that many residents would prefer to be moved to another location instead of receiving monetary compensation.
However, he urged the Lagos State Government to clearly identify the proposed relocation site and properly define the boundaries of the demolition exercise covering Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon communities.
In contrast, representatives of the Sogunro community insisted that financial compensation should be provided to affected residents.
They proposed that each displaced person should receive about ₦10 million, explaining that the average cost of constructing a bamboo house in the community is estimated at about ₦4 million.
The Vice Chairman of the Fishermen Association, identified simply as Tobi, told the lawmakers that the situation had created tension within the communities.
According to him, many residents are uncertain about the outcome of the process.
“The people are anxious about what lies ahead,” he said, adding that the final decision would ultimately rest with the traditional leaders of the communities.
Reacting to the submissions, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Noheem Adams, expressed concern over what he described as the changing positions of the community representatives.
Adams recalled that the communities had earlier agreed on compensation before later altering their stance.
He described the development as a setback to efforts aimed at reaching a resolution on the matter.
The lawmaker assured that the committee would compile its findings, including the varying positions presented by the communities, and submit a comprehensive report to the Speaker and the entire 40-member Assembly for further consideration.
Reconstructed Structures Raise Concerns
During the deliberations, officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency informed the committee that some of the structures previously demolished had been reconstructed.
The agency subsequently requested the Assembly’s approval to remove the newly erected buildings.
Leaders of the three communities, however, agreed that the government should proceed with demolishing any structures that had been rebuilt on the affected sites.
Earlier in the process, the Assembly directed the three communities to establish 10-member committees comprising women, youths, students and traditional leaders.
Naijaonpoint reports that the committees were tasked with helping to address the concerns of displaced residents and facilitate the resolution process. The communities have since submitted their reports to the Assembly Secretariat as part of efforts to resolve the dispute surrounding the demolition exercise.