The Lagos State Government has again defended the recent demolition exercise in Makoko, describing it as part of a broader statewide safety and environmental policy designed to prevent disasters arising from unsafe settlements, fire outbreaks, and development in high-risk infrastructure corridors.
The explanation was given by the Special Adviser to the Governor on eGIS and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, during a press briefing held at Alausa, Ikeja.
Babatunde said the intervention in Makoko was primarily motivated by concerns for public safety, particularly the dangers posed by structures erected beneath high-tension electricity power lines.
“Clearing of high-tension corridors is a safety requirement across Lagos State,” he said. “The action taken in Makoko is consistent with enforcement measures previously carried out in other communities. Makoko was not singled out.”
He explained that similar clearance exercises had been undertaken across the state following fatal incidents caused by fallen power cables, stressing that the government’s responsibility was to prevent further loss of life.
According to Babatunde, the state government had earlier explored several redevelopment options for Makoko, including a proposed shoreline extension project.
However, the plan was abandoned after environmental impact assessments conducted by technical experts, construction firms, and international partners revealed that the project posed significant ecological risks to the lagoon and surrounding marine ecosystem.
In place of the abandoned plan, he said the state has adopted the Water Cities Project, which offers a more sustainable approach that allows the fishing community to remain in the area while addressing critical issues such as sanitation, infrastructure, environmental protection, and urban resilience.
Babatunde disclosed that the Lagos State Government has committed $2 million to the Water Cities Project and is actively engaging international development partners to secure counterpart funding and technical support.
He further outlined the state’s broader urban regeneration strategy, which, he said, prioritises stakeholder engagement, compensation, and resettlement in situations where relocation becomes unavoidable.
Citing previous regeneration efforts in Okobaba, Adeniji-Adele, and Dosunmu, the Special Adviser noted that successful redevelopment in those areas was achieved through extensive consultations and negotiated agreements with affected residents and traders.
He identified recurring fire outbreaks, frequent building collapses, and limited access for emergency responders in densely populated informal settlements as key factors driving the enforcement of building codes, minimum setbacks, and land pooling policies in regeneration zones.
Babatunde added that Lagos State is aligning its urban development framework with international standards and conventions that guarantee the right to safe and adequate shelter, stressing that unsafe housing conditions ultimately expose residents to greater risks.
About the Author
