The Ogu General Assembly (OGA), a leading socio-cultural body of the Ogu people, has strongly condemned the ongoing demolitions at the Makoko waterfront, accusing the Lagos State Government of “systematic ethnic cleansing” and forced displacement under the guise of urban renewal.
In a position paper dated February 2, 2026, the group alleged that Ogu-dominated communities are being targeted to pave the way for elite real estate developments.
Addressing the Lagos State House of Assembly on February 3, 2026, OGA delegates led by Professor Ṣenayọn Ọlaoluwa of the University of Ibadan said the exercise, which escalated during the 2025 Christmas period, has displaced thousands and claimed several lives.
The group drew parallels with the 2017 demolition of Otodogbamẹ, later converted to the high-end Periwinkle Estate, warning that Makoko may suffer a similar fate.
According to OGA, the Ogu people—who make up about 15 percent of Lagos State’s indigenous population—have occupied the waterfronts since the 17th century.
The group warned that dismantling these settlements erases centuries of cultural heritage and destroys the livelihoods of fishing families that supply much of Lagos’ seafood.
The Assembly cited tragic casualties linked to the demolitions, including the death of a five-day-old infant, Epiphany Penasu Athingban, allegedly from tear gas exposure, and a three-week-old baby, Morenikeji Amosu, who reportedly drowned while her mother fled security operatives.
OGA also blamed the trauma of the demolitions for the death of a 70-year-old woman, Albertine Ojadiklunọ, noting that over 3,000 homes, schools, clinics, and places of worship have been destroyed, leaving many residents sleeping in open canoes.
Responding to public outcry, the Lagos State House of Assembly ordered an immediate halt to demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro, while the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Urban and Rural Development, Mr. Olajide Babatunde, said Makoko would not be wiped out and affected residents would be compensated.
However, OGA remains skeptical, demanding the withdrawal of armed security personnel, full compensation for victims and bereaved families, and firm guarantees that the Ogu people will not be displaced for luxury developments.
Members of OGA Delegate to Lagos State House of Assembly includes Professor Senayon Olaoluwa of University of Ibadan, Mrs Pentho Francis, Mr. Kunnu Theophilus and Mr. Sewedo Nupowaku.
Reporting by Pentho Francis