Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Centre for Children’s Health Education Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE) have strongly criticised the Lagos State Government over the renewed demolition in Makoko, a densely populated waterfront settlement in the state.
The groups described the action as a brutal and inhumane assault on the urban poor as they called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to immediately halt the operation and uphold the rights of affected residents.
HOMEF and CEE-HOPE, in a joint statement reacting to the forced evictions being carried out by armed security operatives and suspected thugs within the community, stated that several homes were set ablaze with residents’ properties destroyed and families, including women, children, and the elderly, forced to flee in panic.
The groups described the incident as a gross violation of human rights and a deliberate attack on poor and vulnerable Lagosians.
Community sources said the demolition began without notice on January 5, when government officials reportedly moved bulldozers into the waterfront settlement. A resident alleged that the action contradicted earlier assurances given by government representatives.
“We were told that only houses within 30 metres of the high-tension corridor would be affected, but they suddenly came and started burning other houses,” the source said.
The resident further alleged that security operatives used excessive force during the operation. “They came around 8am, started shooting, spraying tear gas and seizing people’s boats. As I speak, they have moved almost 100 metres into the community, burning houses down,” the resident claimed.
It was also alleged that many homeowners were away at work, fishing, or travelling for the holidays when their properties were destroyed. The source added that community leaders were summoned to Government House to complain about the presence of bulldozers, only for the demolition to commence while they were absent. “This is unimaginable. They are bent on driving us away by hook or crook,” the resident said.
Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, condemned the exercise, saying the government had failed in its duty of care.
“It is really sad that rather than securing citizens, the government and their agents are adding to the horrors, deprivations, harms and insecurity in the land,” he said, describing the attack on Makoko as “absolutely reprehensible and unacceptable.”
Dr. Bassey stressed that the rights of Makoko residents must be respected. “The human and shelter rights of every resident of Makoko must be respected by the Lagos State Government. Enough of this dehumanising treatment of the urban poor by the state in cahoots with private developers,” he added.
On her part, Betty Abah, Executive Director of CEE-HOPE, accused the Lagos State Government of consistently flouting the rule of law. “The state government has shown itself to be consistently lawless in its dealings with the urban poor,” she said, recalling previous demolitions in Oko-Baba, Otumara, Baba-Ijora, and Oworonshoki that displaced tens of thousands of residents.
The groups urged Lagos State government to adopt slum-upgrading approaches in line with international best practices rather than demolitions that destroy livelihoods, displace children from school, and deepen urban poverty.