Makoko Residents Reject Demolition of Their Homes by Lagos State Government

Residents of Makoko, a densely populated waterfront community along the Third Mainland Bridge, staged protests on Tuesday against the demolition of their homes, which began in late December.

The Lagos State Government says the clearance is part of a new waterfront redevelopment framework, but community members accuse officials of extending demolitions far beyond the agreed limits without notice or resettlement plans.

Protesters under the banner of the Makoko Community Development Association blocked parts of the waterfront to prevent bulldozers from entering. “We were not given any notice before they started pulling down our houses,” said Celestine Wada, a student and resident. He explained that dozens of wooden houses had already been destroyed, leaving many families displaced. Another resident, Kemi Adebayo, said affected families were now sleeping in boats and under makeshift shelters after losing their homes.

Civil society groups including the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation and Justice & Empowerment Initiatives (JEI) issued a joint statement accusing the government of carrying out mass forced evictions in Makoko, Oko Agbon, and Sogunro. According to the groups, demolitions began on 23 December 2025 to clear a 30‑metre safety setback from a high‑tension power line, but by early January equipment had moved far beyond the legally permitted boundary, destroying homes deeper inside the communities. They estimate the operation has now passed 100 metres, placing more than 80,000 Makoko residents and tens of thousands in neighbouring areas at risk of displacement. Earlier protests on 4 and 5 January were met with police teargas.

The Lagos State Government insists the demolitions are part of a wider plan to redevelop waterfront areas and increase revenue from coastal assets. Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Alebiosu, said the state has adopted a new profit‑sharing model for projects such as Orange Island and Odogun Waterfront. Housing rights groups, however, warn that redevelopment without resettlement plans or respect for court orders could deepen poverty and trigger a humanitarian crisis in informal waterfront communities.