A Civil society organisation, Rethinking Cities, has rejected the recent recommendation by the Lagos State House of Assembly to relocate residents displaced by demolitions in waterfront communities such as Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Sogunro to a proposed low-cost housing estate in Agbowa, Epe.
The group warned that the proposal, which followed the report of the Assembly’s Committee on Rules and Business, would push long-established and vulnerable communities to the distant outskirts of Lagos, cutting them off from their livelihoods, markets, social networks and the economic opportunities available in the city.
According to the organisation, many residents of Makoko are multi-generational fishers and traders whose survival depends on their proximity to the lagoon and access to water-based livelihoods.
It noted that relocating the residents to a distant inland location would disrupt their economic activities and worsen their living conditions.
The group also argued that the relocation plan reflects a recurring pattern in urban planning across many African cities, where low-income communities are pushed to the periphery in the name of development.
“Relocating them far from these resources not only inflicts immediate hardship but also perpetuates a dangerous cycle in which governments displace the urban poor to remote areas today, only to evict them again tomorrow when development reaches those same peripheries,” the organisation said.
Co-Founder of Rethinking Cities, Deji Akinpelu, said the proposal reflects outdated approaches to urban development that prioritise elite visions of the city over the rights and realities of vulnerable communities.
He warned that forced relocations rarely solve urban challenges and often deepen social inequality. “We have witnessed this cycle of exclusion too often in Lagos and across African cities. Such relocations do not solve urban challenges; they compound inequality, erode community cohesion and undermine the principles of inclusive and sustainable urban development,” Akinpelu said.
Instead of relocation, the organisation urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to withdraw the recommendation and collaborate with the executive arm of government to accelerate the implementation of the proposed Makoko Water City Regeneration Project.
The group also called for direct engagement with community leaders, residents and civil society organisations to ensure that any regeneration initiative benefits those who currently live and work in Makoko.
According to the organisation, the Water City regeneration initiative, championed by the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, provides a more inclusive and sustainable approach to addressing the challenges faced by waterfront communities.
The project is expected to focus on in-situ upgrading, allowing residents to remain within their communities while improving housing conditions and essential infrastructure. Rethinking Cities said the initiative commits about $10 million to improving living conditions in Makoko through safer housing designs, better sanitation systems, improved drainage and more regulated waterways.
The plan also seeks to preserve the fishing economy that supports thousands of families living in the community. According to the organisation, about $2 million has already been invested by the Lagos State Government, while additional funding support is expected from the United Nations to scale up the project.
The group noted that the regeneration strategy offers a more humane and environmentally responsible solution by upgrading the community in place rather than displacing residents to distant locations.
Akinpelu reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting inclusive urban policies that protect the rights of low-income residents and discourage forced evictions without adequate alternatives. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Makoko and call on all stakeholders to prioritise dignity, livelihoods and belonging over displacement,” he said.
He added that sustainable urban development must involve participatory planning that recognises the social, economic and cultural realities of communities rather than imposing top-down relocation schemes.
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