Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday defended the recent demolition of structures in the Makoko waterfront slum, insisting the move was essential for public safety while announcing aid measures for those affected.
The clearances, which started in December 2025, targeted buildings under high-tension power lines and near the Third Mainland Bridge to prevent potential disasters, according to the governor.
Speaking during a media briefing, Sanwo-Olu stressed that the action was not aimed at wiping out the entire community but at clearing hazardous zones.
“The safety of lives and property is paramount and must be safeguarded,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He referenced a recent fuel tanker spill on a bridge where over 100 people risked their lives scooping leaked petrol, warning of similar risks in Makoko.
“I just explained to you that a tanker carrying 33,000 litres of fuel fell on a bridge and spilt fuel, and over 100 people were there scooping it,” the governor added. “We had to deploy our first responders to address the situation. If anything had happened, this is not what we would be talking about.”
Sanwo-Olu accused some local and international NGOs of exploiting the situation for financial gain, claiming they had sought large grants without fulfilling promises.
“We are aware that some local and international NGOs want to profit from this,” he said. “We are studying it and will present evidence. They make so much money from international donors… That is why they are shouting and crying more than the bereaved.”
To mitigate the impact, the governor directed local authorities and ministries to offer additional support.
“By the way, I’ve instructed both the local government and the relevant ministries to see how they can provide additional support, palliatives, relocation options, and grants for some of these people, just to show compassion,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
Critics, however, condemned the demolitions as inhumane, highlighting the sudden displacement of residents, especially women and children.
Abdulrazaq Hamzat, executive director of the Foundation for Peace Professionals, urged a more compassionate approach.
“Women and children were the most affected. Urban development must not be pursued through shock enforcement,” Hamzat said in a statement. “When planning intervention produces homelessness overnight, it ceases to be development and becomes displacement.”
Makoko, a sprawling informal settlement on Lagos’ lagoon, has long been vulnerable to evictions due to its proximity to key infrastructure, with past clearances drawing similar backlash over lack of resettlement plans.
