Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana has called on the Lagos State Government to develop the Makoko waterfront settlements for the benefit of residents rather than displacing them, accusing the government of demolishing the communities to pave the way for luxury real estate development.
Falana, who serves as counsel to the demolished communities, made the call on Tuesday during a press conference organised by the Coalition Against Demolitions, Forced Evictions, Land Grabbing and Displacements in Lagos.
The human rights lawyer cited a 2006 World Bank initiative targeting nine slums in Lagos, including Makoko, as a model the state government should emulate, arguing that developing waterfront communities in place was both feasible and just.
“The Lagos government in partnership with UN agencies must start the development of water cities in the waterfront communities,” he said, adding that residents had categorically rejected the Lagos Assembly’s proposal to relocate them to Agbowa in Epe Local Government Area.
“Lagos has no court order to take people from Makoko to Agbowa. People affected must be carried along. The proposal was rejected by the waterfront communities and their allies across the country. Develop where we are. Our people want to live a life of dignity,” Falana stated.
The senior advocate accused the Lagos government of displacing Makoko residents with the ulterior motive of selling off the waterfront land for luxury housing, and demanded compliance with court judgments delivered in favour of the communities by the Lagos State High Court, the Federal High Court, and the ECOWAS Court in Abuja.
“We are, therefore, demanding the compliance to the judgment of the Lagos court, federal high court, and ECOWAS court in Abuja, which have ruled in favour of the waterfront communities in Lagos,” he said.
Falana also challenged the legal basis of any forced eviction, insisting that governments were obligated to provide alternatives or fair compensation before displacing citizens.
“No government has the power to render citizens homeless. If for any developmental purposes, the government decides to take over my property, alternatives must be provided or payment of compensation, that is fair and just,” he said.
The demolition of Makoko waterfront settlements along the Third Mainland Bridge, which began in December 2025, displaced many residents who subsequently protested and petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. Similar demolition exercises were also carried out in Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara, and Baba-Ijora communities.
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