Falana Blasts Lagos Govt, Declares Makoko Demolitions Illegal

February 2, 2026

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has stated that demolishing or forcibly displacing people from waterfront areas is entirely illegal.

Falana made the assertion on Sunday while responding to questions during an interview on Arise Television.

He emphasised that citizens are entitled to the right to housing and human dignity, noting that if the government plans to carry out any demolition, it must first engage affected residents and make adequate provision for alternative accommodation.

According to the senior lawyer, there was no basis for tear-gassing peaceful protesters.

“Incidentally, I’ve been involved in the demolition of houses in Lagos for the past 35 years.

“To top it up, the Supreme Court gave a decision two years ago, that state governments have no control over inland waterways in the country. So, going to any waterfront to demolish or displaced people is completely illegal.

“This is the problem. Now we are not opposed to development. What we are seeing is that the Lagos state government, and by the way, section 17 of the Commission provides that all actions of the government shall be humane.

“So you can’t go to a community in the dead of the night, tear gas them, wake them up and confuse them. And when they are running out helter skelter, you begin to demolish their properties. It’s not part of our law.

“Secondly, our people are entitled to right to dignity. Our people are entitled to right to house.

“If the government wants to demolish, no problem, but you must discuss and place them in some other places,” Falana said.