The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited leaders of communities affected by the recent demolition in Makoko and surrounding waterfront settlements to a meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
PUNCH Metro gathered on Sunday that the invitation was contained in a letter dated January 26, 2026, and signed by the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko. The meeting follows a petition submitted by the affected communities over the demolition of their homes and the eviction of residents.
According to the letter dated January 27, the community leaders are to appear before the House Committee on Rules and Business at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The meeting will hold at the Chamber’s Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja. The communities were also asked to present relevant documents to aid deliberations.
“I write to acknowledge the receipt of your petition dated 14th January, 2026, on the above subject and invite you to a meeting with the Committee on Rules and Business on Tuesday, 3rd February, 2026, at the 2nd Floor, Chamber’s Conference Room, Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, by 10:00 a.m.,” the letter read.
“You are requested to kindly attend the meeting along with heads of the communities as well as relevant documents that would facilitate fruitful deliberations.”
The invitation comes amid growing tension and hardship following the demolition of structures in several waterfront communities over the past months. Residents and human rights groups have staged repeated protests, alleging that the demolitions were carried out without sufficient notice, compensation, or resettlement arrangements, leaving many families displaced.
A visit to the community by our correspondent over the weekend revealed that some displaced residents now live in boats, while others squat with neighbours whose wooden structures have not yet been affected. Some residents have reportedly relocated to other parts of the state after failing to find shelter within the community.
Community leaders further alleged that the demolition exceeded the agreed safety setback from high-tension power lines, resulting in the destruction of homes, schools, and small health facilities, and forcing children out of school.
Speaking to PUNCH Metro, a community chief, Francis Samson, said the original agreement with the government was to remove structures within 30 metres of the high-tension power line along the lagoon.
He claimed, however, that the exercise extended to about 520 metres, contrary to the understanding reached with government officials.
“Before the demolition, the Permanent Secretary for Physical Planning, Gbolahan Oki, met with us three times and explained that only structures within 30 metres of the power line would be removed,” Samson said.
“We informed our people accordingly. But when the demolition began, it went beyond the agreed distance. When we asked why, we were told it would be extended to 100 metres. Eventually, it reached about 520 metres.”
Samson added that Makoko consists of four communities across land and waterfront areas, noting that the waterfront settlements had been completely destroyed. He said many residents, most of whom are fishermen, had lost their livelihoods and now live in boats.
He also alleged that deaths were recorded during and after the demolition.
“During the exercise, tear gas canisters were fired. Three children and two adults have died. One child reportedly died from tear gas exposure, while an adult died from hypertension after his house was demolished,” he said.
Another community leader, Oluwo Felix Fasinu, supported the claims, stating that repeated requests for clear boundary demarcation had been ignored.
“All we want is for the government to clearly define the boundary we must not cross. We cannot be completely displaced after spending our entire lives here,” Fasinu said.
A resident identified as Mautin described the hardship of sleeping outdoors.
“Sleeping in a boat or open space is no different from homelessness. The demolition has made life unbearable. If relocation is the plan, we would prefer a riverside location where we can continue fishing,” he said.
Efforts to reach the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to enquiries as of the time of filing this report.
Recall that a carpenter, Papa Eve Amossou, lost his three-week-old daughter during the demolition. Amossou said his wife jumped into the lagoon with the baby while fleeing tear gas fired by policemen attached to the demolition task force. Although both were rescued and the infant rushed to hospital, the baby was pronounced dead on arrival.
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