LAGOS, Nigeria — In the early hours of January 11, Victor Ahansu and his family received their only warning as bulldozers descended upon their Makoko home—the grinding sound of heavy machinery that would leave them homeless. The Ahansu family, including 5-month-old twins, now reside in a wooden canoe shielded from the elements by nothing more than a woven plastic sack, joining thousands displaced in Lagos’ ongoing mass evictions.
Makoko, one of Africa’s oldest and largest waterfront settlements established in the 19th century, represents a historic community where generations have lived in stilt houses above the lagoon. Known colloquially as the ‘Venice of Africa,’ this distinctive neighborhood has long captured the imagination of urban planners and nonprofit organizations while simultaneously drawing the attention of developers eyeing its valuable waterfront real estate.
According to local advocacy coalitions, the current demolition wave that began in late December has resulted in the destruction of over 3,000 homes and displacement of approximately 10,000 residents. While authorities cite safety concerns regarding proximity to electrical infrastructure, residents allege the demolitions extended far beyond the mandated 100-meter clearance zone without adequate warning or compensation.
The Lagos state government, through Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has defended the actions as necessary for urban development and risk mitigation in a rapidly growing megacity of approximately 20 million people. However, critics argue these evictions disproportionately target impoverished communities without providing resettlement alternatives as required by law.
The human impact is devastating. Basirat Kpetosi, a mother of five, described waking to bulldozers destroying the home she built just last year. ‘We sleep in the open,’ she recounted. ‘When it rained, it rained on my children and me.’
The situation highlights Lagos’ severe housing affordability crisis, where annual rents for a single room in shared accommodation can reach 700,000 naira ($500)—nearly ten times the city’s minimum wage of 77,000 naira ($55). This economic reality leaves displaced residents with virtually no viable alternatives.
Recent protests against the evictions were met with tear gas from police, underscoring the growing tensions around urban development strategies in one of Africa’s fastest-growing metropolises. The demolitions continue a pattern observed since 2023, with advocacy groups estimating hundreds of thousands have lost homes under the current administration.
Legal precedent exists for protecting residents’ rights. A 2017 Lagos High Court ruling viewed by AP specifically found that mass evictions without resettlement arrangements violate constitutional protections against cruel and degrading treatment, raising questions about the current operation’s legality.