The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed all ministries and agencies involved in the recent demolition exercise in Makoko to immediately stop further actions in the area.
The decision followed a meeting held on Monday between lawmakers and residents of Makoko and Oworonshoki who were affected by the demolitions.
The meeting was called to address complaints and worries raised by the communities over the exercise.
The Majority Leader of the House, Noheem Adams, who also heads the House Committee on Makoko Demolition, led the session.
He instructed all government bodies taking part in the exercise to halt demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Afon and Shogunro communities.
Adams assured residents that members of the assembly would visit the affected areas to assess the situation on the ground and confirm the setback limits being enforced by the state government.
He also said community leaders would be chosen to join a task force committee that would be set up for the process.
The lawmaker noted that while the government remains committed to protecting lives and property, it cannot ignore the risks of people living close to high-tension power lines.
During the meeting, lawmakers showed displeasure over the action of the Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Bayo Adefuye, who distributed food items to residents displaced by the demolitions.
The House stated that the most urgent need of the affected residents was shelter, not food support.
The Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, told the gathering that the state government has been engaging Makoko residents over its regeneration plans for the community.
He said the government does not intend to remove Makoko and confirmed that the demolition exercise had been stopped.
Babatunde added that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has set aside two million dollars for the development of Makoko and assured residents that the community would remain part of Lagos State.
He also said those affected by the demolition would receive compensation.
Some community leaders present at the meeting stated that they no longer wanted non-governmental organisations to speak on their behalf and said they were ready to deal directly with the state government.
They appealed for a complete end to the demolition exercise in Makoko.
State officials explained that the demolitions were carried out for safety and urban renewal purposes, noting that structures built within 100 metres of high-tension transmission lines across the lagoon had been marked for removal.
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