Residents of Makoko’s Ilaje Aiyetoro community in Yaba Local Council Development Area have decried the demolition of their homes, saying the operation has left families homeless, forced many into displacement and exposed residents to violence, including the alleged use of tear gas that reportedly caused casualties, among them children.
According to the Guardian, the affected residents accused government officials who carried out the demolition of treating them with little regard for their welfare and dignity.
The Makoko exercise came only weeks after the Lagos State government pulled down over 250 buildings in Mile 12. In Makoko alone, residents estimate that thousands of people have been rendered homeless.
A visit by The Guardian to the waterfront settlement on Sunday, revealed distressing scenes, with several families now living in boats, while others sold off salvaged roofing sheets to scavengers. Children were seen paddling canoes in an attempt to retrieve remnants of their destroyed homes.
Makoko, a stilt-based waterfront settlement, has long been a target of forced evictions and government demolitions.
Although authorities have consistently justified such actions on the grounds of urban renewal and development, residents and civil society groups have continued to demand humane alternatives and resettlement plans for vulnerable populations.
The community’s inhabitants, many of whom trace their roots in the area back several generations, depend largely on fishing and petty trading for survival.
Condemning the demolition, the Justice Empowerment Initiative, alongside the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation and other civil society organisations, criticised the eviction of Makoko residents and called for better protection of their rights.
One of the affected residents, Monday Atunbi, recounted his ordeal, “I am a driver, so that day I was at work in Mile 2 when I received a call that my home was being demolished by the government. I struggled to build my house, but the government chose to destroy it.
“I have been wearing the same shirt and trousers for days because I lost everything. I have not seen my four children since the house was demolished because I have been doing my best to find a place for my family.
“We were not notified about the demolition. We were initially told to keep a distance of 25 metres from the power line, then later informed that the distance had been increased by five metres.
“I am appealing to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to have mercy on us. I have lived here for over 40 years and was born in Makoko, so where do we go from here? The government did not stop at 30 metres and decided to demolish beyond 100 metres. We have nowhere to go.”
Another resident, Sunday Atunbi, also lamented the situation, “I do not know where to go from here. I have no home or investment in Badagry, where I am from. We are human beings and should be treated as such.
“We are appealing to the government to help us. Children and parents are outside, and our people have been living in boats for close to a week.
“The team that came here was told not to shoot, but they arrived and started firing tear gas, which led to the deaths of many children. Those who destroyed our homes should consider the future.”
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Lagos State government were unsuccessful.
When contacted, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, asked for one hour to respond but did not return calls after the allotted time elapsed.
