THE Lagos State Government has reiterated that the recent demolition exercise in Makoko is part of a wider safety and environmental policy designed to prevent disasters arising from 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 aimed at safeguarding lives, particularly in communities situated beneath high-tension power lines.
He noted that similar clearance operations have been conducted in other parts of the state following fatal incidents linked to fallen power cables, stressing that Makoko was not selectively targeted.
According to Babatunde, clearing high-tension corridors is a mandatory safety requirement across Lagos, and the actions taken in Makoko are consistent with enforcement measures elsewhere.
He explained that the government had previously considered several redevelopment options for the community, including a shoreline extension project, but abandoned the plan after environmental assessments warned of serious ecological risks to the lagoon and surrounding marine life.
He added that the state has since embraced the Water Cities Project as a more sustainable solution, allowing the fishing community to remain while addressing sanitation, infrastructure, and environmental challenges.
Babatunde disclosed that the government has committed $2 million to the initiative and is engaging international development partners for additional funding and technical assistance.
The Special Adviser further highlighted Lagos State’s broader urban regeneration approach, which emphasizes stakeholder engagement, compensation, and resettlement when relocation is unavoidable.
He cited past regeneration efforts in Okobaba, Adeniji-Adele, and Dosunmu as examples of redevelopment achieved through consultation and negotiated agreements.
He also pointed to recurring fire outbreaks, building collapses, and limited access for emergency services in densely populated areas as key reasons for enforcing building regulations, minimum setbacks, and land pooling.
Babatunde said the state is working to align its urban development policies with international standards that guarantee the right to safe and adequate housing, noting that unsafe living conditions ultimately expose residents to greater danger.
