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 waterfront communities affected by the demolition are Makoko, Sogunro and Oko Agbon in Lagos State.

Speaking to newcomers, 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.

The Chief Executive Officer of Zuid Energies Ltd., Ogochukwu Abiakam said the company will partner with the Federal Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to deploy electric taxis at the nation’s airports.

Abiakam disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview in Abuja.

He said the deployment would begin with a pilot phase in Abuja and Lagos.

Zuid Energies, the new-energy mobility and Infrastructure Company, recently deployed 20 electric taxis for operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

He explained that the two locations would serve as test beds for operational efficiency, passenger adoption, and infrastructure readiness.

He stated that the successful implementation of the model at the pilot stage would facilitate expansion to other FAAN-owned airports nationwide.

According to him, the initiative is designed to modernise airport ground transportation while supporting Nigeria’s broader energy transition and economic development goals.

“Zuid Energies plans a phased deployment approach. The fleet size will grow in response to passenger demand, performance data, and charging infrastructure availability—ensuring reliability and service quality from day one.

“All operations are conducted in partnership with FAAN and in full alignment with airport transport regulations, ensuring seamless integration into existing airport ecosystems.

“Electric vehicles are often perceived as premium offerings and Zuid Energies is positioning affordability as a core principle,” he said.

He said the company believed leveraging the lower operating and maintenance costs of electric vehicles to stabilise pricing over the long term would protect passengers from fuel price volatility.

According to him, the key aspect of the initiative is its collaborative approach with existing airport taxi operators.

“Rather than displacing current players, Zuid Energies is developing a transition model that allows traditional operators to participate in the EV ecosystem.

“These include: fleet conversion opportunities, driver integration and training programs, partnership-based operating models.

“The goal is to ensure that the shift to electric mobility is inclusive, sustainable, and economically beneficial for all stakeholders.

“Zuid Energies’ electric taxi service introduces several differentiators to airport transportation in Nigeria: brand new, fully electric vehicles, professionally trained and uniformed drivers, fully cashless payment system, digital booking, tracking, and centralised dispatch,” he said.

He added that beyond vehicles, Zuid Energies was also investing in a full electric mobility ecosystem including dedicated EV charging stations in Abuja and Lagos to ensure operational resilience and long-term expansion.

He expressed optimism that electric vehicles would reduce dependence on imported refined fuel and lower operating costs for transport services.

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