The waterfront settlement of Makoko was filled with emotion on Monday as residents and schoolchildren appealed for government intervention during an on-the-spot assessment by members of the Lagos State House of Assembly over ongoing evictions in the area.
The lawmakers, drawn from the House Committee on Rules and
Business, visited the community following growing concerns over forced
evictions and demolitions affecting Makoko, Oko Agbon and Sogunro waterfront
settlements.
They were received by members of the Makoko Gunuvi Students
Association, who sang the national anthem and held placards bearing messages
such as “Our community is our home, help us protect it,” while pleading with
the government to halt further demolitions.
At the centre of the dispute is a high-voltage power
transmission line traversing the waterfront. While the government insists that
structures must not be erected beneath the cables for safety reasons, residents
allege that demolition exercises have extended far beyond the agreed 100-metre
safety corridor, with claims that buildings as far as 522 metres away were
affected.
The Baale of Oko Agbon, Chief Emmanuel Shemede, described
the situation as a humanitarian crisis, saying many residents had been rendered
homeless.
“Many people are now homeless and are sleeping in their
canoes, including women and children,” Shemede said. “The government came and
started demolishing our houses beyond what we agreed on. We are not fighting
the government; we are only seeking a solution.”
Another community representative, Kojo Phineas, called on
the authorities to provide immediate relief for affected families, including
compensation and temporary shelter. He also alleged that some residents
suffered intimidation, brutality and theft during the demolition process.
The inspection exercise was briefly disrupted when a
disagreement among residents escalated, prompting lawmakers to avoid a
particular section of the waterfront to prevent violence and continue their
assessment elsewhere.
Members of the delegation included the Chairman of Yaba
Local Government Area, Hon. Adebayo Adefuye, alongside officials from relevant
government agencies.
Speaking after the visit, Chairman of the House Committee on
Rules and Business, Hon. Noheem Adams, urged residents to remain calm and
announced a temporary suspension of further demolition activities pending the
Assembly’s decision.
“We cannot take a decision today because this visit is
strictly to assess the situation on ground,” Adams said. “However, we are
appealing to everyone that the status quo should be maintained. If the
government respects the decision of the House of Assembly, the people must also
respect it.”
For residents, the uncertainty remains deeply unsettling. A
student leader, Agbola, noted that Makoko represents several interconnected
waterfront communities whose history, culture and livelihoods are inseparable
from the lagoon. He said residents were demanding the rebuilding of demolished
homes and adequate compensation for displaced families.
Lawmakers are expected to deliberate on their findings at a
scheduled meeting of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday, February 10,
where a final decision on the fate of the affected waterfront communities is
anticipated.
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