Makoko residents protest demolitions at Lagos Assembly, govt cites safety, prior agreements

Residents of Makoko’s Ilaje Aiyetoro community blocked access to the Lagos State House of Assembly in protest against the state government’s ongoing demolition of their buildings.

The demonstrators, from the Yaba Local Council Development Area, pleaded with authorities to limit the demolition to a 100-meter buffer zone, warning that a wider clearance would render numerous families homeless and destroy livelihoods.

The protest occurred as government officials continued to remove structures in the area, indicating the operation’s scope extends beyond buildings directly under high-tension power lines.

Thousands in the waterfront community are estimated to be affected, continuing a history of forced evictions and demolitions in the area.

While the government cites urban development and safety, civil society groups, including the Justice Empowerment Initiative and the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, have condemned the evictions.

Residents, many of whom have lived on stilt houses for generations and depend on fishing and trading, are calling for the provision of alternative accommodations.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, defended the government’s actions. He stated that prolonged engagement with the community over five years led to an agreement for a 50-meter setback from power lines, which is being enforced.

“The law stipulates that buildings must be 250 metres away from power lines… The Lagos State Government called several meetings, and they agreed that structures under the power lines should be removed,” Omotoso said.

He characterized the protest as unfounded, noting the community had previously commended the government’s approach.

When questioned about alternatives for the displaced, Omotoso emphasized enforcing regulations over sentiment.

“Nobody can approve a house to be built under high-tension wires, and if the government asks anyone to leave, they must go,” he stated, arguing that compensating for “illegality” would encourage further infractions.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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