The Lagos State House of Assembly has completed its investigation into recent demolitions carried out in three waterfront communities, as affected residents remain divided over whether they should receive financial compensation or be relocated.
The chairman of the Assembly’s ad hoc committee on the matter, Noheem Adams, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Thursday in Lagos with representatives of the affected communities.
The investigation focused on demolitions in Makoko, Sogunro, and Oko-Agbon.
Adams said the committee would present its findings, along with the demands raised by the communities, to the Speaker and the full 40-member Assembly for consideration.
He also expressed concern over what he described as inconsistent positions from community representatives during the engagement process.
According to him, earlier discussions suggested the affected communities were willing to accept compensation.
However, some leaders later shifted their position to favour relocation, a development Adams said complicated efforts to reach a resolution.
During the committee’s final meeting, leaders from the communities outlined their preferred options for addressing the displacement.
The Alase of the Egun community in Makoko, Francis Agoyon, said relocation would be more beneficial for residents than monetary compensation.
Similarly, the Baale of Makoko, Emmanuel Shemade, said many residents supported relocation but asked the government to clearly identify where displaced people would be resettled.
He also urged authorities to define the precise boundaries of the areas marked for demolition within the three communities.
However, the Sogunro community took a different stance. The community representative, Bola Ayande, said residents preferred financial compensation instead of relocation.
Ayande proposed that each displaced resident should receive about ₦10 million, arguing that an average bamboo house in the community costs approximately ₦4 million to build.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the Fishermen Association, Tobi Kalejaiye, said uncertainty surrounding the issue had left residents anxious.
“The people are jittery about the situation. Whatever the traditional rulers say will be the final decision,” he said.
Despite their differences, leaders from the three communities agreed that any structures rebuilt on previously demolished sites should be removed by the authorities.
Officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency told lawmakers that some residents had already reconstructed buildings on the cleared land and requested approval to remove the new structures.
