The Makoko waterfront community in Lagos State has rejected any plan for forced relocation, insisting they must remain in their ancestral home and be fully included in the United Nations-supported Water Cities project.
In a press statement issued on April 12, 2026, community leaders said they are still recovering from the mass demolition carried out between December 2025 and January 2026, which reportedly displaced an estimated 30,000 residents from homes and businesses along the waterfront.
According to the statement, the demolition was later halted following protests and a formal petition to the Lagos State Governor and the Lagos State House of Assembly. The community said they were subsequently engaged in discussions with lawmakers, during which they presented clear demands for an end to demolitions, urgent humanitarian relief, emergency shelter for displaced persons, and the rebuilding of destroyed homes and businesses.
However, the residents claim none of these demands have been met, adding that even basic relief materials have not been provided months after the incident.
The community also expressed strong opposition to a recent recommendation allegedly suggesting relocation to Agbowa, describing it as unacceptable and far from their ancestral settlement.
They argued that the proposed relocation contradicts the spirit of the Water Cities project, which they say was originally initiated by Makoko residents as an alternative to demolition and later supported by the United Nations.
“It is unacceptable that original residents and intended beneficiaries are being pushed out of their community,” the statement read in substance, stressing that development should not come at the cost of displacement.
The Makoko community further dismissed claims by individuals supporting relocation, stating that such voices do not represent the wider community but only certain traditional interests.
Reaffirming their position, the residents called on President Bola Tinubu, the Lagos State Government, elected officials, and the United Nations to ensure a fair resolution that includes in-situ development, humanitarian support, and rebuilding within Makoko.
They maintained that any sustainable development plan must prioritize people-centered solutions that preserve the community’s heritage while improving living conditions.
The statement was jointly signed by traditional rulers, community elders, religious leaders, youth representatives, and student leaders across Makoko waterfront and surrounding communities.
We support what our community leader said about the water cities project united nation
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