Three civil society organisations have condemned the Lagos State Government over ongoing demolitions at the Makoko waterfront community.
The Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE) Nigeria, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) said in a joint statement Tuesday, that the demolitions have reportedly resulted in the deaths of two babies and an adult, with thousands of residents forced from their homes.
The groups also raised concern over the arrest of Mr. Oluwatobi Aide, also known as Woli, a youth leader in Makoko.
According to the statement, Aide was arrested by security agents on Monday and is currently being detained at the Area F Police Station in Ikeja.
The groups said his health has deteriorated in detention, noting that he was tear-gassed during the demolitions and hospitalised last week.
Nnimmo Bassey, director of HOMEF, described the demolitions as a violent assault on vulnerable communities.
“These attacks on the urban poor reflect a deep contempt for people whose only crime is living in neglected communities,” Bassey said.
"The forced displacement of families and the arrest of community members must stop.”
According to the organisations, demolition teams accompanied by security personnel and armed individuals have repeatedly entered Makoko since Jan. 5.
They alleged that homes were set on fire with little or no notice and that tear gas was used on residents, including women, children and the elderly.
The groups reported that at least three people, including two babies, have died. They identified the victims as 70-year-old Albertine Ojadikluno and five-day-old Epiphany Kpenassou Adingban, among others.
They further claimed that more than 3,000 houses have been destroyed, displacing over 10,000 residents.
Several schools, clinics and places of worship were also affected, leaving many families sleeping in boats, canoes, churches or in the open.
CAPPA Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi said the demolitions contradict earlier assurances by the Lagos State Ministry of Urban Development that the exercise would be limited to structures within a specified corridor near power lines.
“Demolitions have extended to areas not under power lines at all, raising fears that the aim is the total clearance of Makoko,” Oluwafemi said.
CEE-HOPE Executive Director Betty Abah said the situation in Makoko reflects a broader pattern of forced evictions across Lagos, citing similar demolitions in Oko-Baba, Ayetoro, Otumara, Baba-Ijora, Oworonshoki and other communities over the past year.
The organisations described the demolitions as unconstitutional, alleging violations of Section 44 of Nigeria’s Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and international standards on forced evictions.
They called for an immediate halt to demolitions in Makoko and other affected communities, the unconditional release of Aide and others arrested, an independent investigation into the reported deaths and use of force, and adequate compensation and resettlement for displaced residents.
The groups warned that pursuing urban development through forced evictions would worsen Lagos’ housing crisis and undermine social stability.
