Residents of Makoko, the historic waterfront community on the Lagos Lagoon, on Thursday staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly over the ongoing demolition of buildings in the area, accusing the state government of exceeding agreed safety limits and leaving thousands homeless.
The protesters, drawn from Makoko and Ilaje Aiyetoro Community in Yaba Local Council Development Area, blocked part of the road leading to the Assembly complex while carrying placards with messages such as “Please hear our cry,” “Spare our homes, save our families,” and “Limit demolition to 100 metres.”
Makoko is home to tens of thousands of residents, many of whom have lived on stilts over water for generations and depend largely on fishing and small scale trading for survival.
Residents allege breach of agreement
Community leaders and affected residents said the demolitions were initially presented as a safety exercise to remove structures built too close to high tension power lines that pass through the community and the nearby Third Mainland Bridge.
According to them, discussions with government officials led to several revisions of the setback distance. They said the demolition was first limited to a 30 metre setback, later adjusted to 50 metres, and eventually capped at 100 metres from the power lines.
However, residents alleged that since early January 2026, government bulldozers have gone far beyond the agreed limit, destroying homes as far as 200 metres away from the power lines.
“They have passed more than 100 metres. They are even going to 200 metres. They lied to us,” said Messou Abayomi, a community stakeholder.
Several residents said houses were demolished without notice. Micheline Sunnuvun, a woman in her sixties, said her home and goods, including bags of garri, were destroyed during the exercise.
“I have been staying outside beside the shore since the demolition. At night, I use clothes to cover myself and sleep. They destroyed everything I use to survive,” she said.
Another resident, Wusu John, a fisherman who has lived in Makoko for over 30 years, said he was assured his house was outside the demolition zone, only for it to be pulled down.
“I don’t have anywhere to go. This place has been my home for decades,” he said.
Residents also alleged that security operatives accompanying demolition officials fired teargas at people who attempted to resist the destruction of their homes.
Reported casualties
Civil society organizations monitoring the situation reported three deaths linked to the demolition operation. According to statements from the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), the Justice Empowerment Initiative (JEI), and the Makoko Community Youth Association:
•Two infants reportedly died from respiratory distress after inhaling teargas fired by security operatives. One of the infants was identified as five-day-old Epiphany Kpenassou Adingban.
•One elderly woman, 70-year-old Albertine Ojadikluno, allegedly died from shock and physical trauma immediately following the destruction of her home.
Iroko Temitope, leader of the Makoko Community Youth Association, confirmed these details to journalists, noting that the deaths occurred as police attempted to disperse residents protesting the bulldozers.
The Lagos State Police Command and State Government have not officially confirmed the fatalities, maintaining that the exercise is a “safety-first” operation.
These tragedies fueled the protest at the House of Assembly, with residents calling for investigations into the use of force during the demolition.
Civil society groups raise concerns
Civil society organisations, including the Justice Empowerment Initiative and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, condemned the demolitions, describing them as forced evictions that violate the rights of vulnerable residents.
The groups called on the Lagos State Government to halt demolitions beyond agreed safety setbacks and to provide alternative housing and support for displaced families.
They warned that repeated demolitions in Makoko, without resettlement plans, could worsen poverty and create a humanitarian crisis in the waterfront community.
Government insists on safety and legality
The Lagos State Government, however, defended the exercise, insisting it is purely about safety and security.
Speaking with journalists, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said residents had been engaged by the government for over five years on the dangers of living under high tension power lines.
According to him, the law stipulates a 250 metre setback for buildings around power lines, adding that structures in Makoko were erected directly beneath the lines.
“Nobody can approve a house to be built under high tension wires, and no responsible government will accept that,” Omotoso said.
He explained that several meetings were held with community representatives, during which residents allegedly agreed to the removal of structures under the power lines and to a reduced setback of 100 metres, and at some point 50 metres.
“I have videos of the meetings and how they commended the government. If some people we are trying to save from themselves decide to protest, there is no basis for panic,” he said.
On whether the government would compensate displaced residents or provide alternatives, Omotoso said compensating illegal structures could encourage further illegality.
“If we begin to compensate for illegality, illegalities will thrive. We are losing the city, and if we continue to use sentiment, one day we will wake up to see buildings on the Third Mainland Bridge,” he added.
Assembly promises to review complaints
During the protest, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ogundipe S. Olukayode, addressed the demonstrators on behalf of the Speaker. He received their complaints and assured them that the House would deliberate on the matter.
Community spokesman Jude Ojo appealed to the state government to consider the community’s plight, noting Makoko’s long history and political participation.
“Makoko has always stood with the government. We ask that the government stand with us now in our hour of need,” he said.
As demolitions reportedly continue in parts of the community, residents say they are waiting for urgent intervention from the Lagos State House of Assembly and the state government to prevent further displacement and to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
