Residents of the Makoko waterfront have rejected plans for their relocation by the Lagos State government, nearly three months after a mass eviction that displaced an estimated 30,000 people between December 2025 and January 2026.
The community expressed strong opposition to a recommendation by the Lagos State House of Assembly proposing relocation to Agbowa, describing it as unacceptable.
In a statement signed by community leaders and stakeholders, the residents insisted on their right to remain in their ancestral homes and called for full inclusion as primary beneficiaries of the United Nations-supported Water Cities project.
The community recalled that the demolition of homes and businesses was halted following protests and a petition submitted to the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Lagos State government. This led to a series of engagements between representatives of the community and lawmakers.
However, residents said their key demands, including a permanent halt to demolitions, provision of humanitarian assistance, emergency shelter for displaced persons, and rebuilding of destroyed homes, have yet to be addressed.
“None of these have transpired, not even the most modest form of palliatives,” the residents stated.
Residents argued that they have lived in Makoko for over a century and should not be displaced from their ancestral land, particularly as the Water Cities project is expected to be implemented within the same community.
They noted that the project was originally initiated by Makoko residents as an alternative to demolition and later received support from the United Nations.
“It is unacceptable that the intended beneficiaries of the project would be displaced to make way for others,” the statement added.
The community also distanced itself from statements by individuals described as “purported leaders” who appeared to support the relocation plan. While acknowledging their ties to the Oloto Royal Family, the residents insisted that such individuals do not represent the collective position of the Makoko community.
Makoko residents called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Lagos State Governor; and other elected officials to intervene and ensure a just resolution.
They also appealed to the United Nations and the broader public to support their demands, which include immediate relief for displaced persons, reconstruction of homes and community infrastructure within Makoko, and the implementation of the Water Cities project in a way that prioritises residents.
