Demolition: Group Fears Humanitarian Crisis In Makoko

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has raised the alarm over the ongoing demolition of homes in the Makoko waterfront community, warning that the exercise, if unchecked, could trigger a major humanitarian and social crisis in Lagos.

In a statement signed by its executive director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the organisation acknowledged the Lagos State government’s authority to enforce urban planning laws and protect public safety, but insisted that enforcement without humane safeguards undermines both justice and public trust.

It described Makoko as a long established community which residents have lived and worked in the area for generations, noting that the settlement is a product of decades of planning neglect and socio-economic exclusion rather than deliberate lawlessness.

The group said that the demolition of homes without adequate consultation, compensation, or resettlement arrangements has left many residents displaced and exposed to severe hardship, with women and children bearing the brunt of the impact.

“Urban development must not be pursued through shock enforcement,” Hamzat said. “When planning intervention produces homelessness overnight, it ceases to be development and becomes displacement,” it added.

PeacePro called for an immediate halt to further demolitions and urged the Lagos State government to open transparent dialogue with affected communities.

It also demanded the release of a clear resettlement and transition plan that prioritises human dignity while addressing safety and environmental concerns.

It warned that cities are not made safer by pushing vulnerable populations into deeper insecurity, stressing that sustainable urban renewal requires inclusion, patience, and political courage.