Makoko Residents To Be Relocated To Epe

Embattled Makoko residents in the mainland area of Lagos may have a new home in Epe, on the other flank of Lagos.

That is, if a recommendation of the Lagos State House of Assembly on the matter of their resettlement receives executive stamp.

The recommendation concerns residents in those communities that have been affected by the waterfront communities’ demolition exercise of the state government.

They include Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro and the recommendation is that they be relocated to the Agbowa area of Epe.

A statement from the Public Affairs Directorate of the Lagos House of Assembly says the likelihood of Makoko residents being relocated to Epe, follows the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Rules and Business during plenary on Tuesday.

A petition addressed to the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and titled, “Urgent Appeal Regarding Ongoing Mass Forced Eviction and Illegal Demolition Threatening Tens of Thousands in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro Communities”, had given vent to the lamentations Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Noheem Adams, as explaining that the Committee arrived at its conclusions after engaging the petitioners in five separate meetings.

He said the committee also conducted an oversight visit with relevant government officials, agencies, and representatives of the affected communities

The affected waterfront communities depend largely on fishing as their primary source of livelihood and have historically lived on the water because of the nature of their occupation, even as it stated that a demolition exercise carried out by the state government displaced many residents, including the elderly, women and children, while homes and properties were destroyed.

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As a result, living conditions in Makoko and the surrounding areas deteriorated significantly

“The Committee further recommended that the government relocate the remaining residents of Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon to a proposed low-cost housing estate to be constructed in Agbowa area of the State, where they can continue their fishing activities,” the statement added.

Further comments and actions are expected on the matter before the fate of the Makoko residents, in terms of being relocated to Epe is eventually known.