Lagos, Nigeria — Makoko Demolitions Leave Thousands Homeless. Lagos, Nigeria — The Lagos State government’s recent demolition of parts of Makoko, one of the city’s oldest fishing communities, has left thousands of residents without shelter and livelihoods, according to local reports.
The demolitions, which began in late December, targeted wooden homes and shops built on stilts above the Lagos Lagoon.
State authorities claim the action was taken for safety and urban planning reasons, citing environmental risks and the proximity of buildings to high — voltage power lines.
However, residents argue they received little to no warning before the bulldozers moved in. “
On January 9th, the government came to demolish my house.
We were not informed, “said Kpetosi Basirat, a local trader. “Since then, we have had nowhere to go.
When it rained, it fell on us and our belongings.
We are still here with the remains of our property.”
The impact on fishing families has been particularly severe. Victor Ahansu, a fisherman, spoke of his wife being hospitalized shortly after the demolition, following the birth of twins. “.
This is where my family and I are sleeping now, and it’s not safe, “he. “
Many of our belongings were destroyed. If not for God, I would have lost one of my twins because of the tear gas that was thrown.”.
As the rainy season approaches, fear and uncertainty are widespread among the displaced residents. “What scares me the most is that we don’t know where to sleep, “said Usa Andrew. “When it starts raining, where do we go from here?”.
Makoko, often described as a floating slum, has been a part of Lagos’cultural heritage for decades. It is home to tens of thousands of people who rely largely on fishing and small-scale trading.
As Lagos continues its rapid urban expansion, rights groups warn that redevelopment efforts are increasingly displacing low — income communities without adequate resettlement plans.
The demolitions have turned daily survival into an urgent struggle for shelter, safety, and dignity for many in Makoko. Officials have not yet commented on the planned support for the displaced residents or the long-term implications of the demolition. Further details are expected.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 3*
