The Lagos State House of Assembly has ordered an immediate suspension of demolition activities in the Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and rising public concern.

The directive was announced on Tuesday by the chairman of an ad hoc committee constituted by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Noheem Adams, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, according to the New Telegraph.

Adams also urged all state ministries involved to halt further demolitions and assured affected residents of compensation.

“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” Adam stated.

He also called for greater transparency, requesting the full list of taskforce members and the criteria for their engagement, while stressing that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

A member of the ad hoc committee, Stephen Ogundipe, stressed the need for clear communication, noting that residents slated for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor on E-GIS and urban renewal, Babatunde Olajide, confirmed that $2 million has been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He added that the enumeration of affected properties is ongoing and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to addressing the exercise with a human face, prioritising residents’ safety and fair compensation.