Lagos to Build N7bn Jetty, Housing Estates at Oworonshoki After Demolitions

The Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, has revealed that the state government intends to build a N7 billion jetty at the Oworonshoki waterfront area.

The commissioner stated this during an interaction with journalists in Lagos on Friday, noting that his ministry had also received approval to develop housing schemes in the area.

The Oworonshoki community in the Kosofe Local Government Area recently experienced demolitions in the latter months of 2025, as the government said it was carrying out urban regeneration in the area.

Alebiosu, a local government official, stated that the demolition had nothing to do with his ministry but expressed sympathy for the victims, noting that he had made efforts to contact and assist them as needed.

He stressed that assisting the vulnerable through poverty alleviation schemes often has limitations, unlike investing in social projects with deep economic value, such as infrastructure.

He said,

“It’s rather unfortunate that it’s my LG, so my case is very peculiar. My mother grew up here; my house is in Kosofe, so it’s more of a hometown for me. I feel the pain of the people on one side because they have always been supportive of me.”

“However, on the other side, we have water running through there, running through the three local governments in my federal constituency. We have the approval for a jetty. I think it’s about N7bn coming there. We are in discussion with Mr Governor. He has asked for a few things just to make sure the decision is absolutely right.”

“Towards Oworonshoki, we have approvals to set up a housing scheme. It’s important to know that Oworonshoki is specially located, and there’s no reason why we can’t pull back the development happening on the island towards Oworonshoki.”

For many residents of Oworonshoki, the promise of a N7bn jetty and housing schemes sounds like a future they are not sure they will be part of. The 2025 demolitions have left many homeless, raising the question of whether the new Oworonshoki will accommodate the old residents or if the transformation is intended for others.

“The Oworonshoki waterfront scheme is an amazing place. By the time we’re done with it, you can only imagine how it will impact not just Oworonshoki’s real estate value, but also Ogudu, Magodo and the Bariga axis,” Alebiosu said.

Alebiosu added that the government was also considering establishing the first fish market in the area.

“We’re also looking at converting that place into the first proper fish market in Lagos. I still can’t understand how we can be surrounded by water and still have to pay N1m or N2m for fish that we have in our waters.”

“But people will always have their opinions. At the end of the day, the end will always justify the means,” the commissioner said.

His remarks reflect the Lagos government’s long-standing approach to urban development: disrupt now, promise prosperity later, and hope the benefits eventually outweigh the pain.

Alebiosu also spoke about the ministry’s efforts against illegal reclamation and activities along Lagos waterfronts.

“Illegal dredging in Lagos is the same as illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta. You would see people with canoes—sometimes about 20 or 30 of them—moving together. The reason a lot of attention is not paid to it is because of the quantity of sand being dredged, compared to when heavy machinery is used.”

“It’s a fight we cannot afford to back down on because we understand the impact. They use the sand for illegal reclamation, block drainage channels and all sorts of activities. We continue to make arrests. I don’t sit in the office; I actually lead the battle to make sure we get the right things done,” he said.

The Oworonshoki waterfront project is part of a larger Lagos State strategy to maximise the economic potential of its waterfronts, which have long been underutilised despite the state’s extensive coastline. Jetties, housing estates, and commercial hubs are designed to reduce congestion, improve connectivity, and attract investment.

But for those who have lived in Oworonshoki for decades—fishermen, traders, artisans, families—the promise of transformation comes with a deep sense of uncertainty. Will there be affordable housing for them? Will they be employed in the new fish market? Or will they be pushed to the margins, priced out of the community they helped build?

The commissioner’s words, “the end will always justify the means,” may hold true in the long run. But for now, many displaced residents are still waiting to see the beginning of that end.