Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has defended his administration’s demolition of waterfront shanties in parts of Makoko, saying the action was taken strictly to protect lives and avert a looming humanitarian disaster.
The governor spoke on Friday during a closed-door breakfast meeting with selected Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers in Ikoyi. The meeting was organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) as part of efforts to mobilise resources for the state’s security needs in 2026.
Responding to public criticism and protests that followed the demolition of structures around the Third Mainland Bridge corridor, Sanwo-Olu said the Makoko settlement had expanded rapidly and encroached dangerously close to critical infrastructure.
“I have been accused of destroying Makoko, but the challenge is that the settlement was growing at an incredible speed and moving dangerously close to the bridge,” the governor said. He warned that the presence of high-tension power lines beneath the area posed a serious risk to residents.
“There are high-tension power lines underneath. I am not going to sit down and allow a situation where, in one day, 100 to 500 people could die,” Sanwo-Olu added.
He stressed that the demolition exercise was neither politically motivated nor intended to permanently displace residents, but aimed at relocating them away from areas considered unsafe. According to him, the government acted solely in the interest of public safety.
“Of what benefit would it be for the government to dislocate people? It can only be for their own safety. We will not sit back, allow disaster to happen, and then be blamed for inaction,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the state government had explored partnerships with international development agencies to redevelop Makoko sustainably, but said such efforts had failed to produce tangible results.
“For six years, a United Nations agency said if I brought money, they would support development. I told them I already had my own money. Till today, they have not returned. Only last week they said they had no funds,” he said.
The governor also criticised some non-governmental organisations, accusing them of exploiting the Makoko situation to attract donor funding without offering lasting solutions to residents.
Beyond the Makoko issue, Sanwo-Olu called on the private sector to strengthen its support for Lagos’ security architecture through the LSSTF. He outlined key security priorities, including the acquisition of multipurpose helicopters and drones, armoured personnel carriers, water cannons, smart CCTV cameras, digital communication systems, patrol vehicles, and improved police training and infrastructure.
According to the governor, the Lagos State Government currently bears more than half of the state’s annual security expenditure, adding that the LSSTF has maintained credibility due to transparency and accountability in its operations.
“We are rebuilding the Command and Control Centre with state-of-the-art equipment and expanding our Safe City CCTV initiative. Improving emergency response capacity remains a top priority,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also announced plans to commission 35 junior and senior secondary schools in Tolu, Ajegunle, next month, noting that the facilities would accommodate about 22,000 students and help close education gaps in densely populated communities.
Drawing a comparison with the long-standing Okobaba sawmill challenge, the governor said his administration successfully relocated operators to Agbowa, ending years of recurrent fire outbreaks after significant investment and the provision of over 500 housing units.
He emphasised that urban safety, security, and social infrastructure must advance together for Lagos to remain attractive to investors.
“We need to keep our people safe, secure the future, and assure investors that Lagos remains the right environment for growth,” Sanwo-Olu added.
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