Residents of Makoko waterfront in Lagos have appealed for government intervention following ongoing evictions and demolitions affecting thousands of people in the area.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly visited the community on Monday as part of a fact-finding mission led by the Committee on Rules and Business.
The lawmakers were received by students from the Makoko Gunuvi Students Association, who sang the national anthem and displayed placards calling for protection of their homes. Some residents chanted appeals, asking authorities to reconsider the demolitions.
The visit comes after repeated complaints from residents of Makoko, Oko Agbon and Sogunro communities, who say forced evictions have left many families without shelter.
Authorities say the demolitions are linked to safety concerns over a high-voltage power line running through the waterfront. The government maintains that buildings should not be located beneath the cables.
However, residents claim demolition activities extended beyond the agreed safety clearance zone.
The Baale of Oko Agbon, Chief Emmanuel Shemede, said the demolitions had caused significant hardship.
“Many people are now homeless; they are sleeping in their canoes, both children and women,” he said. “We are not fighting the government; we are trying to find a solution.”
Community representative Kojo Phineas also called for compensation and temporary shelter for affected residents, raising concerns about loss of livelihoods.
During the visit, tensions briefly rose when a disagreement among residents threatened to disrupt the inspection. Lawmakers later continued their assessment in other parts of the community.
The delegation included Yaba Local Government Chairman, Adebayo Adefuye, and officials from relevant agencies.
Following the inspection, the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Noheem Adams, called for calm and announced a temporary halt to further demolitions while the Assembly reviews the situation.
He said the visit was intended to gather information and urged both the government and residents to respect the Assembly’s process.
The Lagos State House of Assembly is expected to review its findings and determine possible next steps regarding the eviction concerns.
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