‘Lagos has forcefully evicted 9,000 slum dwellers’ – Amnesty

At a joint presentation of a report tagged: “If you love your life, move out!” which documented alleged atrocities of the state, the rights groups described the state action as gross violation of people’s rights to adequate housing.The Lagos State government as part of its sanitation effort was said to have stormed the Badia East […]

At a joint presentation of a report tagged: “If you love your life, move out!” which documented alleged atrocities of the state, the rights groups described the state action as gross violation of people’s rights to adequate housing.
The Lagos State government as part of its sanitation effort was said to have stormed the Badia East community last February and chased many of the dwellers whom it said were occupying the slum illegally and at the same time constituting health and environmental hazards.
But at a briefing in Lagos, the rights organization said apart from the already evicted 9,000 dwellers, the state government which has already indicated interest in building about 1008 units of houses might have to evict more people because of the space such project might require.
“Nearly 9,000 people were affected by the demolition which took place on 23 February 2013 when officials of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (task force) entered Badia East and destroyed hundreds of houses. People have lost their homes, sources of income, and haven’t been provided with alternative housing and compensation for the losses caused by the forced eviction. Many people are still homeless or living in makeshift shelters in Badia East.
“The eviction amounts to a forced eviction as the Lagos State government failed to engage in genuine consultations with the people affected prior to the eviction; failed to give adequate and reasonable notice; and failed to provide alternative housing and compensation to residents affected by the loss of their homes. Forced evictions are prohibited under international and regional treaties to which Nigeria is a party,” a part of the petition sent to the state governor read.
Speaking further, SERAC Executive Director, Felix Morka said the action of the state government is counter-productive, arguing that it is hard to justify for a government which claims that it is battling inadequate housing but still turns around to push its citizens into homelessness.
“The government thinks by the time they evict these people they will take their bags and return to their villages? No, they won’t. They will want to eke out a living. The shanties government is complaining about will even manifest manifold. Because more shanties will be built by the same people who are ready to survive by all means. So you can see that while trying to curb one challenge, you have unfortunately created another,” Morka said.