Makoko Crisis: Falana Condemns Forced Evictions, Warns Lagos Govt

Makoko Crisis: Falana Condemns Forced Evictions, Warns Lagos Govt

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has warned that the Lagos State Government lacks the legal authority to seize Makoko and other waterfront communities, describing ongoing demolitions as unlawful and a violation of fundamental rights.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos organised by the Coalition Against Demolition, Forced Eviction, Landgrabbing and Displacement, Falana condemned what he called illegal demolitions in Lagos and the displacement of vulnerable residents for elite-driven development.

He stressed that the right to housing in Nigeria is protected under the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, insisting that no government has the power to arbitrarily render citizens homeless.

Falana explained that even where land is acquired for genuine public purposes, authorities must follow due process by engaging affected communities, issuing proper notice, paying adequate compensation, and providing alternative accommodation to prevent displacement.

Citing rulings from the Lagos State High Court, Federal High Court of Nigeria and the ECOWAS Court of Justice, he noted that courts have consistently held that forced eviction in Lagos without consultation and resettlement is illegal.

He alleged that some demolition exercises were carried out at night while residents were asleep, with reports of security operatives using tear gas to disperse occupants. He added that homes, schools and medical facilities were destroyed, worsening the humanitarian situation and forcing many children out of school.

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Falana also referenced the Land Use Act, stating that the government cannot lawfully take land from one group and transfer it to another for private benefit. He insisted that any attempt to seize Makoko and similar communities for luxury development is illegal.

The coalition backing Makoko residents rejected plans to relocate them to Agbowa, insisting that communities should instead be included in development initiatives such as the UN-supported Water Cities Project. It also accused authorities of sidelining legal representatives and civil society groups while offering only token compensation to a few victims.

According to the group, thousands of residents displaced from communities such as Oworonshoki and Otumara are now living in hardship, many in makeshift shelters, while cleared lands are being converted into high-end developments.

Also speaking, Megan Chapman of Justice and Empowerment Initiatives highlighted longstanding cases of displacement, including the 2008 eviction of residents from Kura community at Bar Beach for the development of Eko Atlantic.

She noted that despite securing favourable judgments at the ECOWAS Court, affected communities are yet to receive compensation, describing the situation as justice delayed and denied.

Chapman also pointed to the eviction of residents from Otodo-Gbame in 2016 and 2017, despite court orders restraining the action and directing resettlement. Many of those displaced, she said, have since faced repeated evictions, with some now forced to live in boats.

The coalition called on Nigerians and the international community to speak out against landgrabbing in Lagos and demand justice for affected communities, vowing to continue resisting forced displacement and violations of human rights.

Makoko Crisis: Falana Condemns Forced Evictions, Warns Lagos Govt