Residents of Makoko in the Ilaje Aiyetoro Community, Yaba Local Council Development Area, staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday, partially blocking the road to voice their opposition to the state government’s ongoing demolition of buildings in the area.
The demonstrators, primarily those directly affected by the demolition exercise, appealed to the Lagos State Government to restrict the operation to a 100-metre limit, cautioning that a wider clearance would render numerous families homeless.
They also urged authorities to spare their homes, highlighting that the demolitions were destroying livelihoods and jeopardizing the welfare of their families.
Despite the protest, government officials continued removing structures across the community, indicating that the exercise was not confined to buildings beneath high-tension power lines but targeted a broader portion of the area.
Estimates suggest that thousands of residents in Makoko are affected by the ongoing demolition.
The waterfront community, known for homes built on stilts over water, has faced repeated evictions and government-led demolitions over the years.
Residents largely depend on fishing and small-scale trading for survival.
Civil society organisations, including the Justice Empowerment Initiative and the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, have condemned the eviction of residents in Makoko.
Speaking to The Guardian, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said, “They have the right to protest, which the government cannot take away from them. In this kind of situation, we must look at facts and figures on the matter. The government has been engaging them for over five years; it is all about safety and security.
“The law stipulates that buildings must be 250 metres away from power lines, but they are built under the power lines, and no government will accept that. The Lagos State Government called several meetings, and they agreed that structures under the power lines should be removed and that buildings should be 100 metres away. They later asked for 50 metres, and the government removed structures covering the 50 metres. I have videos of the meetings held and how they commended the government.
“So, if some people we are trying to save from themselves decide to protest, I do not think anyone should panic over that. There is no basis for the protest.”
On whether alternatives were being provided for displaced residents, Omotoso added, “We are losing the city, and if we continue to use sentiment and emotion, we will lose the city completely. One day, we will wake up to see buildings on the Third Mainland Bridge, and people will ask for compensation. The moment we begin to compensate for illegality, illegalities will thrive, so we must be careful.
“Nobody can approve a house to be built under high-tension wires, and if the government asks anyone to leave, they must go.”
