LAGOS: The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has defended the demolition of structures in the Makoko waterfront community, insisting that the exercise was carried out in the interest of public safety.
The demolition, which began in December 2025, affected buildings erected along power-line setbacks. The state government said the action was necessary to prevent avoidable disasters.
Speaking on Monday after signing the ₦4.4tn 2026 appropriation bill into law, Sanwo-Olu said the government could not ignore the dangers posed by illegal structures under high-tension power lines and around critical infrastructure.
The safety of lives and property is paramount and must be safeguarded,” the governor said.
He cited a recent incident involving a fuel tanker carrying 33,000 litres of petrol that fell from a bridge, spilling its contents while residents rushed to scoop fuel.
We had to deploy our first responders immediately. If anything had happened, this is not what we would be talking about today, he said.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the Makoko exercise followed the same logic, stressing that the government was not demolishing the entire community.
What we are doing is clearing specific areas to ensure they do not encroach on the Third Mainland Bridge and to keep residents away from high-tension power lines, he said.
The governor also accused some local and international non-governmental organisations of exploiting the situation for financial gain.
We are aware that some NGOs want to profit from this. They collect huge funds from international donors but fail to deliver on their promises.
That is why they are shouting louder than those directly affected, he added.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that discussions with community stakeholders and civil society groups had been ongoing for over two years, noting that the government could not afford to wait until disaster struck.
He, however, announced that palliative measures had been approved for residents affected by the demolition.
I have instructed the local government and relevant ministries to provide additional support, including palliatives, relocation options and grants, to show compassion, the governor said.
Makoko, a densely populated informal waterfront settlement, has long faced demolition threats due to its proximity to major urban infrastructure.
Rights groups and civil society organisations have repeatedly urged the Lagos State Government to adopt inclusive urban renewal strategies that balance development with human rights protection.
Meanwhile, the Foundation for Peace Professionals had raised concerns over the ongoing demolition, describing the exercise as inhumane and potentially destabilizing.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the organization acknowledged the state’s constitutional powers to enforce urban planning laws but warned that such actions must be guided by human rights principles.
Hamzat said the demolition had displaced many residents, particularly women and children, and exposed them to severe hardship.
Urban development must not be pursued through shock enforcement. When planning intervention produces homelessness overnight, it ceases to be development and becomes displacement, he said.
