Civil society organisations have strongly criticised the Lagos State Government's eviction of residents from Makoko and nearby areas, calling it a violation of laws and court orders. The action has displaced thousands during a time of economic hardship without providing resettlement. Community leaders had cooperated earlier based on promises of compensation and protection.
On January 9, 2026, groups including the Justice Empowerment Initiative and the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation issued a statement denouncing the ongoing forced evictions in Makoko, Oko Agbon, and Sogunro communities in Lagos. These evictions, they argued, threaten thousands of residents with displacement and no resettlement options, breaching existing court orders as well as Nigerian and international legal standards.
The communities had previously complied with the initial phase of demolitions in December 2025, which cleared a 30-metre setback along the high-tension power line near the Third Mainland Bridge. Residents acted on assurances from the Lagos State Government that compensation would be provided for those affected and that other parts of the communities would remain protected. A house numbering exercise supported by the civil society groups from 2020 to 2021 estimated Makoko's population at over 80,000 people.
The organisations highlighted Makoko's significance as a cultural landmark in Lagos, attracting visitors for its unique architecture and vibrant community life. They described the evictions as particularly cruel, occurring amid the festive season and Nigeria's severest economic crisis in decades. Displaced families have resorted to sleeping in relatives' homes or even open canoes, with the action labelled the most severe since the military era.
Other involved groups, such as the Centre for Children’s Health, Education, Orientation and Hope (CEE-HOPE), Global Rights, and Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI), joined in urging both the state and federal governments to halt the demolitions immediately.
