The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed the immediate suspension of all demolition activities at the Makoko waterfront and neighbouring communities.
The decision was announced on Tuesday by the Chairman of the House ad-hoc committee on the matter, Hon. Noheem Adams, after a stakeholders’ engagement held at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium.
The committee was constituted by the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, in response to growing concerns over the exercise.
Adams said the lawmakers resolved that all ministries, departments and agencies involved in the operation must halt demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro with immediate effect, pending further directives from the Assembly.
He noted that the House also requested full disclosure of the composition and mandate of the task force coordinating the exercise, stressing the need for transparency and the inclusion of affected residents in all decision-making processes.
According to him, the Assembly has given assurances that the demolition exercise will remain suspended and that compensation will be paid to residents whose properties have already been impacted.
The announcement was greeted with cheers from community representatives who attended the meeting.
The legislative intervention follows protests staged last week by displaced Makoko residents at the Assembly complex, an action that reportedly heightened tensions and resulted in the arrest of some demonstrators.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to compensating affected residents and carrying out the planned redevelopment responsibly.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS and Urban Renewal, Dr Babatunde Olajide, said the state had earmarked $2 million since 2021 for the redevelopment of the Makoko waterfront to meet international standards.
Olajide explained that the project would be executed “with a human face,” adding that the enumeration of affected properties was ongoing and that the protection of residents’ interests remained a priority.
Community leaders present at the meeting expressed satisfaction with the Assembly’s intervention, describing it as a positive step towards resolving the crisis through constructive engagement with the government.