The Lagos State Government has said the recent demolitions in Makoko were carried out as part of a broader safety, environmental and urban redevelopment policy, not as a targeted action against the waterfront community.
The government stated this on Monday during a press conference addressed by the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on eGIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa.
Flanked by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Dr. Babatunde said the intervention in Makoko was primarily to prevent loss of lives, especially in areas located close to high-tension power lines.
According to him, the exercise aligns with similar clearance operations carried out across Lagos following fatal incidents linked to fallen power cables, stressing that Makoko was not singled out.
“Clearing high-tension corridors is a safety requirement across Lagos State. The action taken in Makoko is consistent with what has been done in other communities,” he said.
Dr. Babatunde disclosed that the Sanwo-Olu administration had set aside $2 million since 2021 for the redevelopment of the Makoko waterfront to meet international standards, assuring that affected residents would be compensated.
He explained that earlier redevelopment proposals, including a shoreline extension project, were abandoned after environmental impact assessments revealed potential ecological risks to the lagoon and marine life. As an alternative, he said the state had adopted the Water City Project, which allows the fishing community to remain while improving sanitation, infrastructure and environmental conditions.
The special adviser added that the United Nations visited Makoko in 2021 and pledged support for the redevelopment, with Lagos State expecting $8 million in counterpart funding. However, he noted that funding challenges facing donor agencies had slowed progress, prompting the state to seek support from local and international partners.
Citing past regeneration projects in Okobaba, Adeniji-Adele and Dosunmu, Dr. Babatunde said redevelopment under the current administration had been achieved through consultation, relocation and compensation of affected residents.
He also pointed to frequent fire outbreaks, building collapses and poor emergency access in densely populated settlements as reasons for enforcing building codes, setbacks and land pooling, stressing that unsafe housing posed serious risks to residents.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said while citizens have a constitutional right to protest, such actions must be conducted responsibly and without disrupting public order.
He noted that protests should not obstruct roads or prevent access to essential services, adding that government decisions must be judged based on facts rather than emotions.