PHOTOS: Demolition Of Makoko Settlement In Lagos

«§» 18 July 2012

City officials in Lagos, Nigeria, have begun the destruction of the Makoko settlement, historic home to some 30,000 residents living in wooden shacks on stilts in the lagoon of Lagos.

The Makoko settlement consists of rows of shanties perched on stilts in the lagoon of Lagos, one of the world’s largest cities with an estimated population of roughly 15 million.

The Lagos state government on July 12 warned Makoko residents that “their unwholesome structures on the waterfront” amounted to an “environmental nuisance”, in a letter seen by AFP.

“Notice is hereby given to you to vacate and remove all illegal developments along the Makoko/Iwaya Waterfront within 72 hours,” said the letter from the Lagos state ministry of waterfront, infrastructure and development.
Community leaders said that the demolition had begun.
An official from the waterfront ministry who drafted the eviction notice, Akin Tijani, told AFP he was not able to estimate the number of people affected.
Some community leaders and activists however said tens of thousands of people live in the targeted slum, visible from the bridge that connects mainland Lagos to the wealthier island districts.
The Makoko settlement is divided between land-based and waterfront areas, with the inland residents not affected by the demolitions.
“The government has repeatedly given enough notice to those occupying these illegal structures to leave. But this has been to no avail as those involved would not listen,” said Raymond Adekunle Akonsemoyin, the community leader for all of Makoko, who lives on land.
A representative from the waterfront community told AFP the demolitions were having a “terrible” impact.
Amnesty International on July 6 condemned the government of the southern Rivers state for evicting without proper warning up to 20,000 people from a waterfront shanty community in the oil hub of Port Harcourt.

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Posted: at 18-07-2012 06:35 PM (11 years ago) | Hero

kai!!!!! this is not dignified at all while there's too much money in the country
                             

Posted: at 19-07-2012 12:32 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac

LORD HAVE MERCY! Can you imagine.

Posted: at 23-07-2012 01:00 AM (11 years ago) | Hero

my GOD.........

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Posted: at 23-07-2012 09:24 AM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero

Na wa o. Dis one na house or na toilet?

Posted: at 23-07-2012 09:29 AM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac

 

Posted: at 1-08-2012 07:33 PM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero