Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

On Wednesday, community leaders and displaced residents gathered in the Ikeja Under-Bridge area of Lagos to protest against ongoing demolitions and alleged forced evictions in waterfront and low-income communities, such as Makoko, Owode Onirin, and Oworonshoki.

The demonstrators alleged that the Lagos State Government was conducting demolitions without sufficient advance warning, compensation, or resettlement arrangements for those impacted.

The DAILY POST noted that the protesters took up positions in key areas of the under-bridge, catching the eye of those traveling by car and on foot along the bustling Ikeja route.

They were observed bearing banners and signs with prominent lettering like “Stop Forced Evictions Now,” “Makoko Lives Matter,” “Demolition Without Resettlement Is Injustice,” “Urban Renewal, Not Urban Removal,” “Homes Not Rubble,” and “Housing Is a Human Right.”

Other placards read “Where Do You Want the Poor to Go?” “Lagos Is for All, Not the Rich Alone,” “Respect Court Orders,” and “Development Without Displacement.”

While some demonstrators exhibited photos of destroyed houses and families forced to leave their homes, others carried signs featuring pictures of children and seniors said to be victims of the demolitions.

The demonstrators, chanting solidarity songs and slogans, called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stop further demolitions and to engage in dialogue with affected communities. Well-liked chants included “NoJustice, No Peace,” “Makoko Is Not a Slum,” and “Consult the People.”

While addressing the press on-site, a few activists characterized the demolitions as lacking compassion and in violation of current court decisions that limit forced evictions in waterfront neighborhoods.

They claimed that numerous residents became overnight homeless, with families compelled to sleep in canoes, beneath bridges, and in open areas after their homes were demolished.

The demonstrators assert that neighborhoods like Makoko, Owode Onirin, and Oworonshoki have been around for many years and ought to be improved with proper urban planning instead of being demolished.

The demonstrators pledged to continue their protests until the government responds to their demands, which include halting demolitions, providing relief supplies, offering compensation, and enacting humane resettlement policies for residents impacted by these actions.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.