Imagine paddling home only to witness your entire life being torn down. This was Tunde Agando’s horrific reality one January afternoon in Lagos, Nigeria. His family’s home in Makoko, a large stilt dwelling, was ripped apart by an excavator, taking all their possessions – clothes, tools, Tunde’s phone – into the water. In moments, Tunde and 15 others were homeless, their barber shop also demolished later that day.
Tunde isn’t alone. Thousands of residents from Makoko, often called the “Venice of Africa” for its unique waterways and stilt homes, have been forcibly evicted by the Lagos State government. Officially, the reason cited was proximity to a power line, requiring a 100-meter clear zone. However, non-profit organizations working in Makoko claim demolitions stretched 250 to 500 meters into the settlement, leaving countless people homeless and tragically, causing over a dozen deaths, including infants.
Makoko is more than just a settlement; it’s a historic 19th-century fishing village, a bustling economic hub, and a vibrant community of about 200,000 people. Its distinct culture and picturesque waterways are a testament to resilience, yet its landscape now resembles a storm’s aftermath. Families like Phoebe Ekpoesi’s have lost everything – homes, businesses, and their children’s education disrupted.
Activists argue that safety isn’t the only motive. Makoko sits on highly coveted waterfront land, overlooking affluent areas. This mirrors a distressing historical pattern in Lagos: informal settlements are cleared, and luxury estates magically appear, pushing the urban poor further to the margins. Despite a recent halt by the Lagos State House of Assembly and promises of a “water-city regeneration” and compensation, the victims face a bleak and uncertain future. For Tunde and his neighbors, sleeping under sheds, the fight for their homes, heritage, and basic human rights continues.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/colonial-era-classism-residents-decry-075042964.html
