Residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro in the Yaba area of Lagos State have rejected plans to relocate them to the Epe axis of the state following the demolition of their homes and recommendations by the State House of Assembly.
Some residents, who spoke in separate interviews on Wednesday, said they never reached any agreement with the state government regarding relocation to another part of the state.
The Secretary of the Makoko Gunuvi Student Association, Zannu Silivester, told journalists that discussions between the communities and the government had only involved suggestions and deliberations, without any binding agreement on relocation.
According to him, the announcement of a relocation plan came as a surprise to many residents of the waterfront settlements.
“All discussions held so far have only involved suggestions and debates between the Lagos State Government and residents of the Makoko waterfront community.
“We are surprised that a conclusion was announced and published without the knowledge or agreement of the Makoko community.
“Nigeria is a democratic nation, and democracy means the people have the right to choose their future, not decisions being imposed on them without consultation,” he said.
Silivester also criticised claims that the Oloto Royal Family are the ancestral owners of the waterfront communities.
He alleged that during earlier visits by community representatives to the Lagos State House of Assembly, the chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Noheem Babatunde Adams, had reportedly stated that Makoko waterfront belonged to the Federal Government and not to the Oloto family.
“However, we are now surprised to see the same Oloto family being mentioned and listed as the owners of Makoko. This sudden change raises serious questions and concerns that the public deserves answers to.
“Makoko waterfront community has existed for decades, with the Ogu (Gunuvi) people as the original residents due to their traditional occupation of fishing, which requires close access to the water,” he said.
Silivester added that residents would not rule out staging a peaceful protest if the relocation plan proceeds without their consent.
“The people of Makoko are law-abiding citizens, but we will continue to defend our rights, heritage and ancestral homes. We urge the government to fulfil the promises made to the citizens of Makoko and to engage with the community transparently and democratically.
“If our voices continue to be ignored, the people of Makoko are prepared to mobilise peacefully in large numbers again, even greater than our previous visit to the Lagos State House of Assembly, to defend our rights and seek justice,” he added.
Also speaking, a community leader, Isaac Dosugan, said earlier discussions with government officials centred on defining boundaries for the communities rather than relocating residents.
The 75-year-old resident said the understanding was that the government would designate specific areas for the communities while developing undemolished sections into affordable housing.
“I was born in this community, and I am 75 years old. In all the meetings we had with the government, our suggestion was that the government should designate a boundary for us in the water area. We also suggested that they should develop the remaining areas for us into befitting residences.
“It is surprising that they are now saying that they will relocate us. We will not agree to this, and we reject any relocation plan,” he said.
The residents’ reaction followed a recommendation by the Lagos State House of Assembly during plenary on Tuesday that those affected by the demolition in the waterfront communities be relocated to the Epe axis of the state.
According to a statement from the Assembly’s Public Affairs Directorate, the recommendation followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Rules and Business.
The report was presented after a petition was submitted to the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, titled “Urgent Appeal Regarding Ongoing Mass Forced Eviction and Illegal Demolition Threatening Tens of Thousands in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro Communities.”
While presenting the report, Adams explained that the committee arrived at its recommendations after holding five separate meetings with the petitioners and conducting an oversight visit alongside government officials, relevant agencies and representatives of the affected communities.
The Assembly noted that the demolition exercise carried out by the state government displaced numerous residents, including women, children and the elderly, while homes and other property were destroyed.
Lawmakers also observed that the waterfront communities rely heavily on fishing for survival and have historically lived close to the water due to the nature of their occupation.
As part of its recommendations, the Assembly urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the Special Adviser on E-GIS to verify the enumeration report submitted by the affected communities.
“The committee further recommended that the government relocate the remaining residents of Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon to a proposed low-cost housing estate to be constructed in the Agbowa area of the state, where they can continue their fishing activities,” the statement added.