Makoko Demolitions Halted as House Promises Major Compensation to Victims

In a dramatic turn of events that has brought a sigh of relief to thousands of residents, the Lagos State House of Assembly has slammed the brakes on the ongoing demolition of waterfront structures in Makoko and neighboring communities.

The “bulldozer-stop” order was issued on Tuesday following a high-stakes meeting between the House ad hoc committee and representatives from the embattled Yaba Local Government Area communities.

Speaking at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, the Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Hon. Noheem Adams, delivered a firm directive to all ministries and government agencies involved in the clearance exercise.

The House resolved that the demolition in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro must be suspended with immediate effect until further notice. ¹  

Perhaps the biggest bombshell from the meeting was the announcement of compensation. Hon. Adams revealed that the state government is looking into compensating residents whose homes and properties have already been reduced to rubble.

“All demolitions in Makoko and its waterfront communities should be stopped… Also, any task force to be constituted must involve the residents and carry them along,” Adams declared.

The Assembly’s intervention seeks to end the tension that has gripped the waterfront for weeks. By mandating that any future task force must include local residents, the House is signaling a shift toward community-inclusive governance rather than forceful eviction.

For the people of Makoko—Nigeria’s iconic “Venice of Africa”—this legislative intervention represents a massive victory in the fight for their ancestral homes.