In recent days, Makoko, recognized as Africa's biggest floating slum, has witnessed the alarming presence of amphibious excavators accompanied by armed police, demolishing numerous wooden shanties that had been erected on stilts over the lagoon in Lagos.
This initiative marks a continuation of a crackdown against what officials in Nigeria’s commercial hub label as unlawful structures, with critics alleging that this is merely a ploy to reclaim waterfront property for real estate initiatives.
Since the start of the demolitions, which commenced just days before Christmas, three individuals, including two infants, have reportedly died from the effects of teargas deployed by law enforcement, according to three human rights organizations.
Residents are claiming that these demolitions, which an NGO asserts have forced over 30,000 individuals from their homes, were executed without prior notice — a statement the Lagos state government contests.
“We were treated as if we are inferior to animals,” stated Alex Wusa, a 25-year-old educator, as he navigated through Makoko’s canals on an antiquated canoe.
“My residence has been destroyed. My shop is gone. The school where I work has also been demolished.”
Estimating the population of Makoko is challenging due to the lack of official records, with numbers varying from 80,000, as reported by the NGO JEI, to over 300,000 according to local chiefs.
The stilt houses that characterize Makoko, perched above Lagos's polluted waters, symbolize both the poverty and resilience of urban Nigeria and often become the focal point of ongoing land disputes, routinely resulting in the displacement of the less affluent by wealthier interests.
The government frequently opts to demolish informal settlements rather than provide essential services like electricity, proper roads, or educational facilities.
‘The suffering is unbearable’
Makoko, a densely populated area for low-income families who largely depend on fishing and informal trading, has existed for more than a century without basic amenities such as electricity, clean water, and schooling.
This community, while attracting attention from authors, travelers, and NGOs, has historically been looked down upon by the governing authorities and has faced similar demolitions in 2005 and 2012, the latter of which resulted in the death of a community leader when hundreds of homes were destroyed.
During a recent visit by AFP, many families, including children and pets, were found sleeping on canoes due to flooding from heavy rains that had soaked their temporary shelters.
“This suffering is unbearable,” expressed Iyabo Olaleye, a fish seller who lost two homes. “The rain soaked my children, and I have nowhere to turn.”
Government Justifies Demolitions
Authorities in Lagos maintain that these demolitions are crucial for safety and urban renewal. They stated that structures erected within 100 meters of overhead power lines spanning the lagoon were slated for removal.
Gbolahan Oki, head of Lagos’s urban renewal office, did not comment when approached by AFP, but previously indicated to journalists in December that residents had been informed ahead of the demolitions.
In March, Oki said, “We gave them nearly 14 days' notice, urging them to move away from the high-tension wires.” He added that the number of buildings near these lines had only increased.
However, a coalition of five NGOs alleges that the government demolished properties well beyond the 100-meter guideline.
With dredging activities and land reclamation ongoing in neighboring areas, these NGOs have criticized what they describe as a continuous partnership between the government and affluent land-owning families along with corrupt private developers.
High-end developments in Lagos have often expanded by reclaiming land along the shore, resulting in the destruction of informal settlements.
Just weeks prior to the demolitions in Makoko, bulldozers had also razed numerous homes in the Oworonshoki area, located on the opposite shore of the lagoon. Officials argued that many of these structures lacked the necessary planning approvals and posed environmental hazards, claims that residents have refuted, asserting that the government is involved in land acquisition for private use.
“When they demolish, will they provide housing for those who used to live there?” questioned Moses Ogunleye, a fellow with the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners.
High Costs Even for Basic Shelters
Lagos faces one of the most acute housing shortages within Africa, with homelessness prevalent in Nigeria’s largest city regarding population but smallest in land area, projected to become the world’s biggest metropolis by 2100.
Experts describe Lagos's housing crisis as contradictory. As informal neighborhoods are cleared to make way for new developments, many homes in wealthier districts remain unoccupied due to exorbitant rental prices.
According to Timothy Nubi, a professor at the University of Lagos, approximately half of the state’s populace resides in slums. Residents, even within makeshift and shanty homes, are paying remarkably high rents.
“People paying about $126 each year for a space under a bridge signifies an issue,” Nubi stated. “It becomes even more concerning when thousands of residences stand vacant.”
Nubi advocates for a gentrification strategy that improves slum conditions such as Makoko without displacing its current inhabitants.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!