The Lagos State Government has committed $2 million to the Water Cities Project, positioning it as the blueprint for the regeneration and renewal of the Makoko waterfront settlement.The commitment was disclosed on Monday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, alongside the Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS and Urban Development, Babatunde Olajide.
What the Lagos State Government is saying
The Lagos State Government said its intervention in Makoko is centred on the Water Cities Project, for which it has committed $2 million, describing it as the most environmentally sustainable option for regenerating the waterfront settlement.Olajide said Makoko is a sensitive and globally recognised community comprising both land-based and waterfront sections, noting that its international visibility informed the government’s approach.
He explained that the state dropped plans for shoreline extension in the area after experts advised that such an option was not environmentally friendly.“On Makoko’s future, he disclosed that the state had committed two million dollars to the Water Cities Project, describing it as the most environmentally-friendly option,” the NAN report read in part.It further quoted Olajide as saying, “We dropped shoreline extension because experts advised it was not environmentally friendly.“Water Cities is the sustainable option, and that is what we are pursuing with the Makoko community.” According to him, the Water Cities Project was adopted as a safer alternative that aligns with environmental standards and international best practices, adding that the initiative is being pursued in consultation with the Makoko community.
He further noted that areas located under high-tension power lines were cleared strictly on safety grounds, insisting that such actions were taken to protect lives rather than punish residents.Other urban renewal projects across Lagos Beyond Makoko, the Lagos State Government highlighted regeneration projects across the state, as part of a consistent urban renewal policy since 2019.Olajide cited the relocation of Okobaba sawmill operators to Timberville as a major success. About 300 housing units were provided free, along with industrial equipment worth billions of naira. The move ended frequent fire outbreaks and created a safer, organised industrial hub, now hosting the permanent NYSC orientation camp.On markets, 21 across the state are being redeveloped, including Pelewura, Jankara and Bombata. At Alaba-Arago, thousands of modern stalls are being built for original occupants, with allocations designed to ensure fairness, he noted.The government has committed about N1 billion to housing regeneration in Adeniji-Adele and continues paying rent for displaced residents. In Dosunmu, over N1 billion was paid in compensation while partnering with property owners, Olajide explained.
