Residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro waterfront communities in the Yaba area of Lagos State have rejected a proposed plan to relocate them to the Epe axis following the demolition of homes in the area.
Community members said they were never part of any agreement with the Lagos State Government to move to another part of the state, describing the relocation announcement as unexpected.
The Secretary of the Makoko Gunuvi Student Association, Zannu Silivester, explained that previous discussions between the communities and government officials only involved suggestions and consultations, not a binding decision on relocation.
According to him, residents were surprised to see reports announcing a relocation plan without their consent.
Silivester also raised concerns about claims that the Oloto Royal Family are the ancestral owners of the waterfront settlements. He noted that during earlier engagements with lawmakers, it was stated that the Makoko waterfront belonged to the Federal Government, making the recent references to the Oloto family as owners questionable.
He emphasised that the Makoko waterfront community has existed for decades and is traditionally inhabited by the Ogu (Gunuvi) people, whose main occupation is fishing, requiring them to live close to the water.
Silivester added that residents are prepared to defend their rights and heritage, warning that they may organise peaceful protests if relocation plans proceed without proper consultation.
A community leader, Isaac Dosugan, also rejected the relocation proposal, stating that earlier meetings with government officials focused on defining community boundaries rather than moving residents elsewhere.
The 75-year-old resident said community representatives had proposed that the government designate specific water areas for residents while developing remaining sections into affordable housing.
He said residents were therefore surprised to hear about relocation plans and insisted that the community would not accept being moved from their ancestral homes.
The reaction followed a recommendation by the Lagos State House of Assembly that residents affected by recent demolition exercises in the waterfront communities be relocated to the Epe axis.
Lawmakers made the recommendation after reviewing a petition concerning the alleged mass eviction and demolition affecting thousands of residents in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro.
During deliberations, the Assembly noted that the demolition displaced many residents, including women, children and the elderly, and destroyed homes and property. Lawmakers also acknowledged that the affected communities rely heavily on fishing for their livelihood.
The Assembly recommended that the state government verify the enumeration report submitted by the communities and consider relocating residents to a proposed low-cost housing estate in the Agbowa area, where they could continue their fishing activities.
However, residents insist that relocation is unacceptable and are calling for further engagement with the government to reach a solution that respects their rights and long-standing presence in the waterfront communities.
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