LAGOS: The Lagos State House of Assembly has ordered the immediate suspension of demolition activities at the Makoko waterfront and surrounding communities.
The chairman of the House ad-hoc committee, Mr Noheem Adams, announced this on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ engagement with leaders of affected waterfront communities.
The committee was set up by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa following public outcry over the demolition exercise, which triggered protests by displaced Makoko residents at the Assembly complex last week.
Adams said the Assembly resolved that all ministries, departments and agencies involved in the exercise must halt demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro with immediate effect.
He added that the House had demanded full disclosure of the composition and mandate of the task force coordinating the exercise and called for transparency and the inclusion of affected residents in decision-making.
“The Assembly assures residents that demolitions remain suspended and that compensation will be paid to those already affected,” Adams said.
The announcement was met with cheers from community representatives, who expressed appreciation for the Assembly’s intervention.
An affected resident, Mr Tomi Ipaye, described the decision as a positive step towards resolving the crisis through dialogue and engagement.
