Oiza Yusuf |
A coalition of national and international human rights, environmental, and social justice organizations has issued a scathing condemnation of the Lagos State Government, accusing the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of carrying out systemic, illegal, and cruel forced evictions. In a joint statement released by the coalition of advocacy groups present, the organizations alleged that the state is engaging in a deliberate pattern of violence against the urban poor to clear valuable waterfront land for elite private developments under the guise of urban renewal.
The advocacy groups highlighted a devastating humanitarian crisis unfolding in communities such as Makoko, Oworonshoki, Ilaje-Otumara, and Baba Ijora. The statement claims that thousands of residents, including fishermen, traders, the elderly, and children, have been rendered homeless through brute force. According to the coalition, these demolitions often occur with little to no prior notice and in direct violation of subsisting court orders. The groups argued that by destroying homes and livelihoods without providing resettlement plans, the state has exposed vulnerable families to disease, hunger, and increased safety risks.
Specific accounts of recent enforcement actions paint a grim picture of the situation on the ground. In Oworonshoki, the coalition reported that demolition squads, accompanied by heavily armed security personnel, razed hundreds of homes in the middle of the night in October 2025. This occurred despite an interim injunction secured by human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, which sought to restrain the government from further destruction. Similarly, in Makoko, the groups alleged that since December 23, 2025, over 3,000 homes have been destroyed. The statement claims that the operations involved the use of tear gas and resulted in the deaths of at least twelve people, including two infants and a 70-year-old woman.
The organizations also challenged the state’s justification for these actions. While the government has cited environmental hazards and proximity to high-tension power lines as reasons for the clearances, the coalition accused the administration of weaponizing its own neglect. They noted that the state has historically failed to provide basic infrastructure like sanitation and clean water to these areas, only to later label them unfit for habitation. The groups further alleged that the government has exceeded legal setbacks for power lines to grab land for vested interests, demolishing structures hundreds of meters beyond the statutory requirements.
Furthermore, the coalition expressed deep concern over the Lagos State Government’s perceived contempt for the judiciary. They pointed to a August 2025 Federal High Court judgment that awarded 3.5 billion Naira in damages against the state for previous unlawful killings and demolitions in waterfront communities, a sum they say remains unpaid. The groups also criticized the failure of past initiatives, such as the $200 million World Bank-funded slum upgrade project, which they claim yielded little benefit for residents before the state resumed aggressive demolitions.
In their list of demands, the signatories called for an immediate halt to all forced evictions, full compliance with court orders, and the provision of emergency shelter and healthcare for the displaced. They rejected the Governor’s offer of palliatives, stating that the residents are hardworking citizens who require justice and resettlement rather than handouts. The coalition is also seeking a formal public apology from Governor Sanwo-Olu and accountability for state agents involved in the use of lethal force, warning that the current trajectory of governance in Lagos remains a stain on the state’s conscience.
