Makoko in the Middle: Lagos Unveils $10m Water City Plan as Demolition Tensions Boil Over

State-backed regeneration proposal draws mixed reactions as residents and rights groups demand answers over recent clearances and protest clampdowns.

 

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to invest $10 million in the regeneration of Makoko, the sprawling waterfront fishing community, even as tensions remain high over recent demolition exercises that have displaced residents and triggered protests across parts of the state.

The proposed project, described as a “Makoko Water City,” is expected to be jointly funded, with the Lagos State Government contributing $2 million and the United Nations providing up to $8 million, according to the Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS, Olajide Babatunde.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Babatunde said the initiative is aimed at modernising the community while preserving its unique waterfront character, although work on the project has yet to commence.

“So far, government intervention has focused only on removing structures within the high-tension power line corridor to prevent accidents in the event of fallen wires,” he said.

He acknowledged growing difficulty in securing donor funding, noting that international partners are becoming more cautious.

“Funds are no longer easily available from most donor agencies. We are appealing to international partners and business organisations, both within and outside Nigeria, for support,” he added.

According to Mr Babatunde, residents were consulted through engagements involving government officials and representatives of the United Nations. He explained that two redevelopment options were considered for Makoko—shoreline extension and the water city concept—but environmental concerns ruled out the former.

“The water city project will be located where the fishing community currently lives. No structures within this area have been affected. Any removals were strictly limited to the high-tension corridor,” he said.

Protests and growing unrest

Despite these assurances, tensions escalated last Wednesday when residents from Makoko, Owode-Onirin, Oworonshoki, Bariga, Ajegunle, and other affected communities staged a peaceful protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding compensation for properties affected during clearance exercises.

Civil rights groups condemned the police response to the protest, which they said turned confrontational despite the demonstration being peaceful.

Observers said the protest remained calm until shortly after 1 p.m., when police officers deployed tear gas and attempted arrests, including that of protest leader Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto. Elderly residents and children were reportedly affected, while several protesters sustained injuries and required medical attention.

Speaking at the International Press Centre, Ayoyinka Oni of the Coalition Against Demolition, Forced Eviction, Land Grabbing and Displacement described the police action as excessive. Other activists, including Ibrahim Oluwatoba of Voice of the Masses and Funmilade Ajayi, alleged that women and children bore the brunt of the incident, suffering injuries and trauma.

Zikora Ibeh of CAPPA Africa added that many residents were prevented from formally presenting their grievances to lawmakers.

Legal and rights concerns

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has previously cited court rulings protecting waterfront communities, including a 2017 Lagos State High Court judgment and an August 2025 Federal High Court order restraining demolitions in Makoko and similar settlements.

Meanwhile, rights groups led by the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) have called for an independent investigation into the police crackdown and demanded the removal of Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh.

At a press briefing in Ogba, CHSR President Alex Omotehinse alleged that incidents linked to protests in Owode-Onirin in August 2025 remain unresolved, while condemning attempts to portray protesters as “rented crowds.”

The group called for compensation, restoration of affected properties, and independent inquiries into alleged abuses.

Calls for accountability

Five days after the protest incident, the Lagos State House of Assembly invited leaders of Makoko and neighbouring waterfront communities for discussions on petitions arising from the demolitions.

Community leaders insist the clearance exercises went beyond agreed safety setbacks, affecting homes, schools and clinics, and leaving many families without shelter.

Ojo Jide, a community leader and member of Slum Dwellers International, said the lack of documentation has made compensation and resettlement difficult.

“There is no profiling, no data capturing, no house numbering. How do you compensate people or resettle them when there is no record of what has been destroyed?” he asked.

While the Lagos State Government maintains that the demolitions were necessary for public safety, infrastructure protection and urban planning compliance, civil society organisations argue that the actions disproportionately affect low-income communities and were carried out without adequate consultation or resettlement plans.

A committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly is expected to meet with Makoko representatives later this week, as discussions around the proposed water city project continue.

SOURCE : NaijaRush Assignment Desk