“our Community Is Our Home” — Lagos Lawmakers Visit Makoko Amid Eviction Crisis

By Elizabeth Osayande & Ifunanya Ndigwe

LAGOS — The murky waters of Makoko were alive on Monday with the voices of children and residents pleading for government intervention as members of the Lagos State House of Assembly visited the waterfront to assess ongoing evictions.

The lawmakers, on a fact-finding mission under the Committee on Rules and Business, were welcomed by students from the Makoko Gunuvi Students Association, who sang the national anthem and chanted, “Our community is our home, help us protect it,” while holding placards appealing for mercy.

The visit followed urgent appeals against mass forced evictions and demolitions that have threatened tens of thousands of lives across Makoko, Oko Agbon, and Sogunro communities.

Beyond the 100-Meter Mark

The main point of contention is a high-voltage power line running through the waterfront. The government maintains that no structures should be built under the cables for safety reasons. However, residents say demolition crews have gone far beyond the agreed 100-meter safety clearance, reportedly razing buildings up to 522 meters from the line.

Baale of Oko Agbon, Chief Emmanuel Shemede, described the humanitarian impact: “Many people are now homeless; they are sleeping in their canoes, both children and women. The government came, and they started demolishing our houses beyond what we agreed on. We are not fighting the government; we are trying to find a solution.”

Community representative Kojo Phineas called for immediate compensation for lost livelihoods and temporary shelter for affected families, alleging that some residents also faced brutality and theft during the demolition.

Tension at the Waterfront

The inspection was briefly disrupted when a dispute among locals threatened to escalate. A young man confronted an alleged “traitor” in the delegation’s boat, forcing lawmakers to bypass the section and continue their assessment elsewhere to prevent violence.

The delegation included Yaba LGA Chairman Hon. Adebayo Adefuye and officials from various government agencies. Following the inspection, Hon. Noheem Adams, Chairman of the Committee, appealed for calm and ordered a temporary halt to further demolitions. “We cannot decide anything today, as today is just for us to come and see, but we are appealing to everybody that the status quo should remain. If the government respects the decision of the House of Assembly, then the people too should respect the decision,” he said.

A Community in Limbo

For Makoko residents, the stakes are high. Student leader Agbola emphasized that Makoko represents several water-based communities whose identity and heritage are tied to the lagoon. Their demands include rebuilding demolished structures and compensating displaced families.

The final fate of the Lagos waterfront will be determined in a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, at the Lagos House of Assembly, where lawmakers are expected to deliver a definitive judgment on the inspection findings.

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