Makoko Demolitions Part Of Safety, Environmental Policy – Lagos Gov’t

The Lagos State Government has again defended the demolition exercise in Makoko area of the State, saying the action was part of a broader statewide safety and environmental policy aimed at preventing disasters linked to unsafe settlements, fire outbreaks and high-risk infrastructure locations.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on eGIS and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, made this known during a press briefing held at Alausa, Ikeja.

Babatunde said the intervention in Makoko was driven primarily by the need to protect lives, particularly in areas located beneath high-tension power lines.

According to him, similar clearance exercises have been carried out in several parts of Lagos following fatal incidents caused by fallen power cables, stressing that Makoko was not singled out for enforcement.

“Clearing of high-tension corridors is a safety requirement across Lagos State. The action taken in Makoko is consistent with what has been done in other communities,” he said.

He explained that the government had earlier explored multiple redevelopment options for Makoko, including a proposed shoreline extension project. Still, the plan was discontinued after environmental assessments by technical experts, construction firms, and international partners, indicated significant ecological risks to the lagoon and surrounding marine life.

Babatunde said the state has since adopted the Water Cities Project as a more sustainable alternative, allowing the continued habitation of the fishing community while addressing sanitation, infrastructure, and environmental concerns.

He disclosed that the Lagos State Government has committed $2 million to the project and was engaging international development partners for counterpart funding and technical support.

The special adviser also highlighted the state’s broader urban regeneration strategy, which prioritises stakeholder engagement, compensation and resettlement where relocation becomes unavoidable.

He cited previous regeneration projects in Okobaba, Adeniji-Adele, and Dosunmu as examples of redevelopment achieved through consultation and negotiated agreements with affected residents and traders.

Babatunde further pointed to recurring fire incidents, building collapses, and poor access for emergency services in densely populated settlements as key reasons for enforcing building codes, minimum setbacks and land pooling in regeneration areas.

He said Lagos State was aligning its urban development policies with international standards and conventions that guarantee the right to adequate and safe shelter, noting that unsafe housing conditions ultimately place residents at greater risk.