Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos, is demolishing two heavily populated waterfront communities to make way for an urban renewal project, displacing thousands of residents in the process.
The Lagos State Government is evicting people and clearing structures in the Makoko floating settlement and the Oworonshoki suburb, both located along a crucial 12-kilometer bridge connecting the mainland to Lagos Island, the city’s main business hub.
The government described the operation as part of an “urban-regeneration program” but provided few details.
Makoko alone houses thousands of people in stilt-top homes, and Lagos—a city of up to 21 million residents—has about 40% of its land near water bodies and wetlands. According to a 2023 World Bank report, the city faces a housing deficit of 3.3 million units, with 87% of the need coming from low- and very low-income households.
In recent years, authorities have pursued urban expansion through land reclamation, putting waterfront communities, often home to poor residents who earn a living through fishing and crafts, at risk of forced evictions.
The demolitions, which began in December and are ongoing, have affected over 3,000 homes and displaced more than 10,000 people, according to Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (Cappa), a Lagos-based advocacy group.
“This state campaign of land-grabbing and displacement is repugnant and must be stopped,” the group said.
The Lagos government has offered compensation ranging from 300,000 naira ($211) to 5 million naira, depending on the type of home, according to Opeyemi Benjamin, spokesperson for the Take it Back Movement, a human-rights organization.
Some residents have rejected the payments, claiming they are far below the actual value of their properties. While the government maintains that some structures were illegally occupied, some residents insist they have legal title documents. Authorities argue that planning laws allow them to demolish structures for public interest, provided affected persons are compensated.
Cappa also accused the government of widening the demolition zone in Makoko from 50 meters to 100 meters from power lines, exceeding legal requirements of 30 to 50 meters. Many displaced residents, including children, are reportedly sheltering in boats, schools, churches, or open spaces, exposing them to harsh conditions and health risks.
The government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Wosilat Adeyemi, 52, who lost her home in Oworonshoki, is currently living among the rubble and has appealed for financial help to secure alternative housing. “I have no money to rent a house and nobody to help me,” she said.
