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Environment
Urgent evictions in Lagos as Makoko's floating community faces devastation amid expanding demolitions
Written By: Alaba Lambert
17 Jan 2026 06:03 AM
Makoko, Lagos – In the heart of Lagos Lagoon, the historic fishing settlement of Makoko – often dubbed Africa's "Venice" for its stilted homes and canoe-lined waterways is under siege. What began as a targeted clearance for safety setbacks has escalated into widespread demolitions, displacing tens of thousands and sparking protests across the city.
Residents accuse the Lagos State Government of overreach, violence, and a lack of humanitarian support, while officials defend the actions as essential for urban safety and development.
The demolitions kicked off on December 22-23, 2025, initially aimed at structures within a 30-meter buffer from high-tension power lines near the Third Mainland Bridge.
Community leaders say they cooperated, expecting the operation to halt there.
However, by early January 2026, the scope ballooned first to 100 meters, then reportedly up to 200-500 meters in some zones affecting not just Makoko but adjacent areas like Oko Agbon, Sogunro, and Oworonshoki.
Estimates of those displaced vary widely, with local advocates and NGOs like CEE-HOPE, HOMEF, CAPPA, and Justice & Empowerment Initiatives (JEI) reporting over 30,000 people affected, including entire families now sleeping in canoes or makeshift shelters.
Makoko's population, historically pegged at over 80,000-100,000, relies heavily on fishing and small-scale trade, making the evictions a blow to livelihoods as well as homes.
Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of the operations.
Amphibious excavators, backed by armed police and alleged "thugs," have torn down wooden stilt homes, with reports of structures being set ablaze and tear gas deployed against residents including children and the elderly.
Tragically, at least three to four deaths have been linked to the chaos: two infants and an elderly woman succumbed to tear gas exposure, while others perished amid the destruction.
Protests have erupted multiple times since early January, with residents marching to the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Governor's Office in Alausa.
On January 15-16, demonstrators blocked roads, carrying placards pleading for intervention from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Tinubu.
Lagos State officials maintain the demolitions are necessary to prevent hazards from power lines and to advance the city's "megacity" ambitions through urban regeneration.
They dispute claims of inadequate notice and insist only unsafe structures are targeted. However, residents and observers argue the lack of relocation plans and emergency aid exacerbates the crisis, especially during the holiday season and amid Nigeria's economic hardships.
Critics point to a pattern under Governor Sanwo-Olu, with similar evictions in Oworonshoki and Balogun Market drawing ire for minimal warnings and tear gas use.
As of January 17, the situation remains tense, with demolitions reportedly ongoing despite protests and pleas.
International attention is growing, with calls for federal intervention to protect vulnerable communities.
Makoko, a symbol of resilience for over a century, now hangs in the balance, a stark reminder of the tensions between urban progress and human rights in one of Africa's fastest-growing cities.
Residents accuse the Lagos State Government of overreach, violence, and a lack of humanitarian support, while officials defend the actions as essential for urban safety and development.
The demolitions kicked off on December 22-23, 2025, initially aimed at structures within a 30-meter buffer from high-tension power lines near the Third Mainland Bridge.
Community leaders say they cooperated, expecting the operation to halt there.
However, by early January 2026, the scope ballooned first to 100 meters, then reportedly up to 200-500 meters in some zones affecting not just Makoko but adjacent areas like Oko Agbon, Sogunro, and Oworonshoki.
Estimates of those displaced vary widely, with local advocates and NGOs like CEE-HOPE, HOMEF, CAPPA, and Justice & Empowerment Initiatives (JEI) reporting over 30,000 people affected, including entire families now sleeping in canoes or makeshift shelters.
Makoko's population, historically pegged at over 80,000-100,000, relies heavily on fishing and small-scale trade, making the evictions a blow to livelihoods as well as homes.
Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of the operations.
Amphibious excavators, backed by armed police and alleged "thugs," have torn down wooden stilt homes, with reports of structures being set ablaze and tear gas deployed against residents including children and the elderly.
Tragically, at least three to four deaths have been linked to the chaos: two infants and an elderly woman succumbed to tear gas exposure, while others perished amid the destruction.
Protests have erupted multiple times since early January, with residents marching to the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Governor's Office in Alausa.
On January 15-16, demonstrators blocked roads, carrying placards pleading for intervention from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Tinubu.
Lagos State officials maintain the demolitions are necessary to prevent hazards from power lines and to advance the city's "megacity" ambitions through urban regeneration.
They dispute claims of inadequate notice and insist only unsafe structures are targeted. However, residents and observers argue the lack of relocation plans and emergency aid exacerbates the crisis, especially during the holiday season and amid Nigeria's economic hardships.
Critics point to a pattern under Governor Sanwo-Olu, with similar evictions in Oworonshoki and Balogun Market drawing ire for minimal warnings and tear gas use.
As of January 17, the situation remains tense, with demolitions reportedly ongoing despite protests and pleas.
International attention is growing, with calls for federal intervention to protect vulnerable communities.
Makoko, a symbol of resilience for over a century, now hangs in the balance, a stark reminder of the tensions between urban progress and human rights in one of Africa's fastest-growing cities.
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