We have No Regret Over Makoko Demolition – Sanwo-Olu • Hosts LSSTF-Organised Private Breakfast Meeting with top CEOs
By Trek Africa Newspaper
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has defended his administration’s recent demolition activities in parts of Makoko, insisting that the action was taken strictly in the overall public interest and to avert a potential humanitarian disaster.
The governor spoke on Friday during a private breakfast meeting with select Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers in Ikoyi, organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) to mobilise funds for Lagos’ critical security needs in 2026.
Addressing concerns and protests that followed the demolition of shanties near the Third Mainland Bridge, Sanwo-Olu said the structures had expanded dangerously close to both the bridge and high-tension power lines, creating a grave safety risk.
“I have been accused of destroying Makoko,” the governor said, saying that “But the challenge is that the settlement was moving at an incredible speed and getting dangerously close to the bridge. 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.”
He explained that the government did not dislocate residents for political or economic gain, but merely pushed them back to safer areas to prevent a tragedy.
According to him, appeals to international agencies for collaborative redevelopment had yielded no 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,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He criticised some non-governmental organisations, accusing them of exploiting the Makoko situation for donor funding rather than offering sustainable solutions.
“Of what benefit would it be for government to dislocate people?” He asked, adding that “It can only be for their own safety. We will not sit back, allow disaster to happen, and then be blamed for inaction.”
Beyond Makoko, the governor used the forum to appeal for private sector support to strengthen Lagos’ security architecture through the LSSTF.
He listed priority needs to include multipurpose security helicopters and drones, armoured personnel carriers, water cannons, digital communication tools, smart CCTV cameras, patrol vehicles, tactical training and infrastructure upgrades for the police.
Sanwo-Olu said the Lagos State Government continues to fund over 50 per cent of the state’s annual security expenditure, adding that the trust fund model has earned credibility due to transparency and accountability.
“We want to ensure Lagos remains secure. We are rebuilding the Command and Control Centre with state-of-the-art equipment and scaling up our safe city CCTV initiative,” he said, noting that improved emergency response capacity remained a priority.
The governor also announced plans to commission 35 junior and senior secondary schools in Tolu, Ajegunle, next month, accommodating about 22,000 students, as part of efforts to address educational deficits in densely populated communities.
Drawing parallels with the long-standing Okobaba sawmill challenge, Sanwo-Olu said his administration successfully relocated operators to Agbowa, ending years of recurrent fires after investing billions of naira and providing over 500 housing units.
He stressed that security, urban safety and social infrastructure must progress together if Lagos is 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,” the governor said.
