Amnesty International has condemned the ongoing unlawful and violent demolition of Makoko, a fishing community located on the Lagos Lagoon, calling on the Lagos State Government to immediately halt what it described as attacks on lives and livelihoods.
In a statement, the human rights organisation said the Lagos State Government deployed heavily armed security personnel to carry out the demolitions, which have resulted in the destruction of homes, schools, shops, places of worship and healthcare facilities. The demolitions, which reportedly began on 5 January 2026, were described as a further demonstration of a disregard for fundamental human rights.
Amnesty International noted that since 2016, thousands of families affected by repeated demolitions and forced evictions in Makoko and surrounding communities have been left stranded, with many losing their homes and sources of livelihood. The organisation said such actions have entrenched poverty and insecurity among already vulnerable populations.
According to the group, forced evictions have become a recurring tool used by the Lagos State Government to take over land occupied by low-income communities, without adequate consideration for the social and economic consequences. It recalled that the violent eviction of the Ilaje-Otumara community in Lagos on 7 March 2025 left more than 10,000 people homeless.
Amnesty International stressed that Lagos must be developed as an inclusive city, warning that the pursuit of a “mega city” vision should not come at the expense of communities living in poverty, whom it said are being punished for decades of failures in urban planning.
The organisation called on the Lagos State Government to immediately place a moratorium on mass evictions, conduct independent investigations into the use of violence during forced evictions, and provide effective remedies to residents of Oworoshoki, Makoko and Ilaje-Otumara whose rights have allegedly been violated.
It urged the authorities to adopt rights-based urban development policies that protect lives, livelihoods and human dignity.
