Femi Falana, SAN, has urged the Lagos State Government to develop the Makoko waterfront settlements in the interest of the public.

Falana made the call on Tuesday at a press conference organised by the Coalition Against Demolitions, Forced Evictions, Land Grabbing and Displacements in Lagos.

The appeal comes after the Lagos State Government began demolishing waterfront structures in Makoko along the Third Mainland Bridge in December 2025, a move that displaced several residents.

The affected communities protested the demolitions and submitted a petition to Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Assembly recently proposed that residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro waterfront communities be relocated to Agbowa in Epe Local Government Area of the state.

Demolitions were also carried out in Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara, and Baba-Ijora communities in Lagos.

At the press conference, Falana, representing the affected residents, stated that the Makoko community has rejected the relocation plan proposed by the Lagos State Assembly.

The Senior Advocate noted that since the relocation proposal was announced, the Lagos State Government has not made any official statement regarding the development.

Referencing a 2006 World Bank project targeting nine Lagos slums, including Makoko, Falana urged the Lagos State Government to adopt a similar approach and develop the waterfront communities for the benefit of the “poor masses.”

The human rights lawyer added that residents of Makoko and other waterfront areas wish to remain in their communities and called on the government to implement developmental projects to support them.

Falana alleged that the Lagos State Government is evicting Makoko residents to make way for the development of “luxury homes” on the waterfront.

He stated that the Lagos State Government has yet to obey court rulings that were delivered in favour of the communities affected by the demolitions.

“No government has the power to render citizens homeless. If for any developmental purposes, the government decides to take over my property, alternatives must be provided or payment of compensation, that is fair and just.

“We are, therefore, demanding the compliance to the judgment of the Lagos court, federal high court, and ECOWAS court in Abuja, which have ruled in favour of the waterfront communities in Lagos.

“We are here to say enough is enough! We are not going to allow any demolition of settlements again either in Lagos or any other parts of the country,” Falana said.

“The Lagos government in partnership with UN agencies must start the development of water cities in the waterfront communities.

“The Lagos government in partnership with UN agencies must start the development of water cities in the waterfront communities.

“Lagos has no court order to take people from Makoko to Agbowa. People affected must be carried along. The proposal was rejected by the waterfront communities and their allies across the country. Develop where we are. Our people want to live a life of dignity,” he added.