By Ghazali Ibrahim
Civil society organisations have strongly condemned the ongoing demolition of homes in Makoko, a long‑standing waterfront community in Lagos, following reports that two babies and an adult have been critically affected by exposure to tear gas and other demolition‑related chaos.
The demolition, carried out in early January 2026 by the Lagos State Government, is part of a broader forced eviction exercise in the Ilaje Aiyetoro area and surrounding waterfront settlements.
Thousands of low‑income residents have seen their houses destroyed, leaving many homeless and scrambling for shelter on boats or among neighbours.
Rights groups, including Justice & Empowerment Initiatives, the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, the Centre for Children’s Health Education Orientation and Protection (CEE‑HOPE) and others, say the exercise has violated legal assurances and human rights standards.
They argue that authorities extended demolition beyond agreed safety zones and deployed violent tactics, including tear gas, resulting in injuries to vulnerable residents with reports of two children and one adult struggling for life after exposure.
In a joint statement, the organisations called the demolitions “lawless, unwarranted and reprehensible,” warning that the destruction of homes without prior notice, compensation or humane resettlement plans has created a humanitarian emergency. They urged the Lagos State Government to halt the eviction exercise immediately, provide medical care and long‑term shelter for affected families, and adopt inclusive slum‑upgrading strategies instead of demolitions.
Residents, some of whom have lived in Makoko for decades, described scenes of chaos, displacement and loss of livelihood, with many families now living in boats or selling salvaged materials just to survive. The groups warned that without urgent action and government accountability, the crisis could deepen, particularly for the children and elderly already displaced by the operation.
