The Lagos State Government has declared its intention to spend roughly $10 million on revitalising Makoko, the expansive waterfront neighbourhood, despite protests calling for police and government accountability and outrage from locals and civil society organisations over recent demolitions that have left families homeless.
On Monday, Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS, announced that the state would invest $2 million, with the UN potentially contributing up to $8 million for a “water city” project that would modernise the fishing community. The project hasn’t started yet, though.
“So far, government intervention has focused only on removing structures within the high-tension power line corridor to prevent accidents in the event of fallen wires,” Mr Babatunde said.
He admitted that foreign funders are becoming more circumspect.
Join our WhatsApp community
“Funds are no longer easily available from most donor agencies. We are appealing to international partners and business organisations both within and outside Nigeria for support,” he added.
Mr Babatunde said residents had been consulted through engagements involving both government officials and United Nations representatives.
He added that the water city project and a shoreline extension were the two choices the administration has evaluated for Makoko.
The water city is the only environmentally feasible choice after experts and environmentalists voiced concerns about the coastline extension.
“The water city project will be situated where the fishing community currently lives. No structures within this area have been affected. Any removals were limited strictly to the high-tension corridor,” he said.
Protests
Residents of Makoko, Owode-Onirin, Oworonshoki, Bariga, Ajegunle, and other impacted communities peacefully protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly last Wednesday, demanding compensation for properties destroyed during the government’s clearance exercises, escalating tensions over the demolitions.
The forceful dispersion of protesters and journalists was denounced by advocacy organisations and civil rights advocates.
The demonstration was seen to be calm until just after 1:00 p.m., when police officers entered the area with tear gas and made an effort to arrest people, including protest leader Hassan Soweto.
Children and senior citizens were reportedly impacted, and a number of demonstrators were hurt, some of whom needed medical attention.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, had cited multiple court rulings that protect waterfront communities, including a 2017 Lagos State High Court judgment and an August 2025 Federal High Court order that restrained demolitions in Makoko and other settlements.
Calls for government accountability
Following this, Leaders of Makoko and nearby waterfront communities were summoned to a meeting by the Lagos State House of Assembly to discuss petitions regarding demolitions five days after the brutal attack on peaceful protestors.
Residents have claimed that government demolitions destroyed homes, clinics, and schools, leaving many homeless, going much beyond established safety setbacks.
According to Slum Dwellers International member and community leader Ojo Jide, the demolitions lacked the necessary paperwork, making compensation or resettlement difficult.
Join our WhatsApp community
“There is no profiling, no data capturing, no house numbering. How do you compensate people or resettle them when there is no record of what you have destroyed?” Mr Jide said.
Civil society organisations maintain that the demolitions are anti-poor and were conducted without consultation, compensation, or relocation, despite the Lagos State Government’s defence that they are required for infrastructure protection, public safety, and the enforcement of urban planning regulations.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
