Demolition pushed us to our boats – Makoko residents

The early morning downpour on Friday (yesterday) worsened the harrowing condition of evicted residents of Makoko, a sprawling slum community in Lagos, who were left to look for cover to escape being drenched by the rains. The inevitable rainy weather condition reminded them of their homelessness, not because they could not afford or have one […]

The early morning downpour on Friday (yesterday) worsened the harrowing condition of evicted residents of Makoko, a sprawling slum community in Lagos, who were left to look for cover to escape being drenched by the rains.

The inevitable rainy weather condition reminded them of their homelessness, not because they could not afford or have one but ironically forced on them by the demolition of their properties by the state government.

Many of the houses in Makoko, a community built on stilts along the lagoon across the Third Mainland Bridge, came into ruin and rumbles on December 22, 2025 when the sound of bulldozers roared in the community to demolish houses 30-metres close to the high-tension wire.

While the residents succumbed to the state government’s directive to demolish houses 30-metres close to high tension wires, it became repelling when the demolition exercise extended to over 500-metres, destroying thousands of houses and rendering many homeless.

 

Demolition records

The over one-month-old demolition exercise carried out in Makoko  on Dec 22 marked the third various administrations have carried out on the community.

Research shows that, the rounds of demolitions began in 2005 when the state government considered it an eyesore. In July 2012, the state government ordered that some of the stilts beyond the power lines be brought down. The third which happened recently has left many members of the slum community in dire need of shelter and a means of survival.

Israel Idowu, who was born and has lived in Makoko for 40 years, and whose family house was demolished, described the state government’s action as inhuman, saying the exercise has destroyed livelihoods and disrupted the academics of students in the community for over a month.

“Our government is unjust, unfair because they did not even think of the generation yet unborn or the future. There is a slogan common in Lagos State, which states: “Leave no child behind.” But looking at what they have done here, they are not just leaving children behind but destroying their destinies. There are three government schools, with one having a population of 864 students. 

“Due to the demolition, the population has dropped to 200. Where did the remaining 500 plus go? They have destroyed the education system of the children.  They have destroyed the livelihood of the environment. This community has been adding to the economy of the state,” he said. 

He narrated their ordeal since the demolition, saying, “A child that was born in the same week the demolition happened could not survive the teargas fired at us when we protested. He died. Another woman left her baby inside the room and went out; before she could get the child and jump into the river, the child had inhaled the teargas. Everything was done to save the child, unfortunately, the baby did not survive. Also, a pregnant woman who was bleeding couldn’t get access to quick medical attention because the bulldozers were demolishing and there was chaos everywhere; the woman bled to death.

“We have another woman who died instantly when the rush started. She is still in a mortuary. After the demolition, many men and children have died. Why would a government do that to a community that has been there over 200 years? They say we are illegal occupants. What makes us illegal occupants,” he asked.

He accused the government of lying in the guise of trying to protect the members of the community.

“The government said they didn’t want people under power lines because it is dangerous, stating that they were trying to protect the citizens, but it is a lie. Instead, they go behind sharing the land of the masses to the rich and the high and mighty in the society,” he said.

He berated the government, saying it had contributed little to the development of Makoko, adding that the community has been supported by non-governmental organisations over the years.

“If the government had done what was expected of them, they would not come on air to say that NGOs were taking advantage of the place. What has the government done for that community? 

“Even if the NGOs are taking advantage of that environment, they are helping; and it is because the government is not carrying out its responsibilities. That’s why the NGOs stepped in. If the government steps up to their responsibility, no NGO will take advantage of any community.

 

Boats now our homes – Residents

Michellia Faton, who spoke in Egun dialect, expressed displeasure over the acute distress they had gone through since their homes were demolished, saying the boats have become a resort to sleep at night.

“We no longer sleep in houses; we sleep inside boats, canoes and open spaces under the sun or rain. We are just begging for food before eating. Since the demolition, family members have been scattered, with most of them sleeping inside boats. Some stay in a person’s room with their children and wives, while others sleep inside churches,” she said.

Another resident whose home was demolished, Sylvanus Moses, expressed concern over the varying weather conditions they are now exposed to, noting that most of them have no option but to remain under the rains.

“It rained this morning, leaving everyone hiding and covering themselves with anything they could find. Many people sleep inside boats and the rain falls on them,” he said.

He added that the demolition rendered many of them homeless. He said, “They demolished many houses and millions of people have been left hanging anywhere they see. The situation right now is very terrible. 

“I mean that children have not been able to go to school because some of their uniforms were destroyed during the demolition. Some people went to work and returned to a demolished home,” he said.

Lamenting that their woes have contributed to financial constraint, he said, “Everything has gone. People are just managing; there’s no work. It is more than a month now since it happened and people are just managing from hand to mouth.”

Isaac Dosugan, who was born at Makoko and has lived in the community for 70 years, said the demolition subjected many of them to poor health conditions.

“We are homeless. Since the demolition, we have been suffering from poor health conditions because we live in an uninhabitable place. I cried profusely when it rained in the morning.

“Since teargas was fired at us during the incident, I lost one of my younger siblings. His corpse is currently in the mortuary. Ten children also died,” he lamented.

 

Demolition is to ensure safety – LASG

Reacting to the ongoing demolition of structures at Makoko, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Gbenga Omotoso, said it was aimed at the urgent need to protect lives and maintain a comprehensive urban renewal initiatives aimed at improving living conditions for residents.

He added that the government had committed counterpart funding towards the renewal plan, and met with international partners to ensure a sustainable and humane redevelopment process.

“This is about urban renewal. It is about better living conditions for our people. The government cannot, and will not allow residents to remain in environments that pose imminent danger to their lives,” he said yesterday during an interview on a television programme.

He added that residing close under high-tension electricity wires posed health and safety risks.

“This is an emergency waiting to happen. Should such a calamity occur, the same voices questioning government action would ask why preventive measures were not taken,” Omotoso noted.

He said that building under high-tension wires and within restricted zones violates established physical planning and environmental laws.

“In Lagos State, there are clear regulations governing setbacks from waterways and infrastructure corridors. These laws exist to protect lives and ensure orderly development,” he said.

He stressed that compensating illegal structures erected in clearly restricted zones would undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent.

“We cannot allow a situation where individuals build in unauthorised areas—under power lines, near critical infrastructure or even on bridges—and expect validation after the fact. A city must be governed by laws,” he said.

He added that the intervention of the state government to demolish houses under high tension was in line with legality, safety and humane urban planning, not social or economic exclusion.

He also said the state government targeted transforming vulnerable settlements into safer, properly planned communities that reflect the standards of a modern megacity.

“This is not about displacement for the benefit of the wealthy, it is about what is right, legal and safe for human habitation,” he said.