The Lagos State Government has again defended its recent demolition exercise in Makoko, saying the action is part of a broader statewide safety and environmental policy aimed at preventing disasters linked to unsafe settlements and high-risk infrastructure locations.
Speaking at a press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on eGIS and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, said the intervention was primarily driven by the need to protect lives, especially in communities located beneath high-tension power lines.
“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,” Babatunde said.
He stressed that Makoko was not singled out for enforcement, noting that similar clearance exercises had been carried out in several parts of the state following fatal incidents caused by fallen power cables.
According to him, the government had previously explored multiple redevelopment options for Makoko, including a shoreline extension project. However, the proposal was abandoned after environmental assessments by technical experts, construction firms and international partners warned that it posed serious 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, designed to allow continued habitation of the fishing community while improving sanitation, infrastructure and environmental conditions.
He disclosed that the Lagos State Government has committed $2 million to the project and is 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 pointed to recurring fire outbreaks, building collapses and poor emergency access in densely populated settlements as key reasons for enforcing building codes, minimum setbacks and land pooling in regeneration areas.
“Lagos State is aligning its urban development policies with international standards that guarantee the right to adequate and safe shelter,” he said, adding that unsafe housing conditions ultimately place residents at greater risk.
