By ADEKUNLE WILLIAMS

The Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of affected waterfront communities have backed the state government’s proposed water city project of the demolished areas.

This formed part of a five-point agreement reached on Tuesday evening during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the House of Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the waterfront communities affected by the demolition are Makoko, Sogunro and Oko Agbon in Lagos State.

Speaking to newsmen the Chairman, Adhoc Committee on Rules and Business, Mr Noheem Adams, said the proposed project by the state government was intended to benefit the affected residents.

Adams, who is also the House Majority Leader, said the state government would constitute a 10-man committee to conduct a self-enumeration of affected buildings.

The majority leader said the committee was expected to complete the enumeration exercise and submit its report within two weeks to the Adhoc Committee on Rules and Business.

Adams called for transparency in the self-enumeration process, noting that data provided by the community would be cross-checked with government records.

He directed Makoko stakeholders to submit the list of the proposed 10-man committee to the House upon its constitution.

Speaking to journalists, the Baale of Sogunro Community, Chief Abraham Mesu, commended the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly on the matter.

Mesu described the proposed Water City project as a landmark initiative capable of improving living standards and ensuring that residents remain the primary beneficiaries.

He, however, expressed concern over the impact of the demolitions but affirmed the community’s willingness to collaborate with the state government.

Also speaking, the Baale of Makoko Waterfront, Chief Emmanuel Shemade, said community leaders had resolved not to rebuild demolished structures until further notice.

Shemade said he was satisfied with the agreement reached at the meeting on the regeneration of Makoko communities without displacing residents.

He further commended the commitment of the state government to provide an aerial photograph clearly showing demolition boundaries within one month.

Earlier, Dr Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Geographic Information Service (GIS), said the state government had concluded plans for the Water City project as part of efforts to regenerate the area.

Babatunde said the governor was concerned about overcrowding and poor living conditions in the communities and assured that affected residents would be adequately compensated. (NAN)

Update news