Stakeholders from Makoko, Sogunro, and Oko Agbon communities in Lagos State have agreed with the state government to establish a 10-member committee to conduct a self-enumeration of buildings affected by the recent demolitions.
The committee is expected to complete the exercise and submit its report within two weeks to the Lagos State House of Assembly Adhoc Committee on Rules and Business.
As part of the resolution, affected residents were advised not to rebuild demolished structures pending further directives.
The decision was reached during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja.
The outcome formed part of a five-point agreement between community representatives and state officials.
Among other resolutions was a commitment to regenerate the Makoko communities without displacing residents.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Geographic Information Service (GIS), Dr. Olajide Babatunde, also pledged to provide an auto-photo clearly indicating demolition boundaries within one month.
Speaking after separate engagements with community representatives and government officials, the Majority Leader of the House and Chairman of the Adhoc Committee, Mr. Noheem Adams, emphasized transparency in the self-enumeration process.
He noted that the community-generated data would be cross-checked against official government records.
Adams directed stakeholders to formally submit the list of the 10-member committee once constituted.
He added that the proposed Water City project is designed to improve living conditions and directly benefit affected residents.
The Baale of Sogunro community, Chief Abraham Mesu, and the Baale of Makoko Waterfront, Chief Emmanuel Shemade, acknowledged the disruption caused by the demolitions but expressed readiness to cooperate with the government.
Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Bayo Adefuye, commended the Assembly’s intervention, describing the Water City initiative as a landmark project aimed at enhancing living standards while prioritizing residents as key beneficiaries.
Written by Olusegun Haastrup