A coalition of civil society organizations and community representatives has issued a joint statement condemning the forced evictions of waterfront communities in Lagos, calling for an immediate halt to further planned demolitions.
A joint statement released by the Group decried the recent evictions in Oko Baba and parts of Ayetoro community, which began on September 14.
According to the coalition, thousands of residents have been displaced, with many now sleeping outdoors.
According to the press statement, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) announced the “clearing of shanties” in Oko Baba on social media, coinciding with reports of homes and workplaces being set on fire. The following day, demolitions reportedly began in Ayetoro without prior notice.
The coalition thereafter raised alarm about imminent threats to Sogunro, part of the Makoko/Iwaya waterfront.
Signatories to the statement include representatives from Justice & Empowerment Initiatives (JEI), the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, Centre for Children’s Health, Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE), Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI), Global Rights, and Enough Is Enough Nigeria.
The Groups stressed that forced evictions violate fundamental rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and called on the Lagos State Government to pursue in situ upgrading as an alternative to mass evictions.
The Groups further cited a recently approved pilot project for upgrading a small area of Makoko through the Dutch-Nigerian firm Nlé as evidence that better approaches exist.
“Certainly, this is the moment for Lagos to break from the past and embrace a new approach, rather than jeopardizing its future development prospects and destroying tens of thousands more lives,” the statement read.