The Foundation for Peace Professionals has raised the alarm over the ongoing demolition of houses in the Makoko waterfront community, warning that the exercise could trigger a major humanitarian and social crisis in Lagos State if not addressed.
The organisation, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, on Sunday and made available to The PUNCH, expressed concern over the manner of the demolition, describing it as inhumane and potentially destabilising.
While acknowledging the constitutional powers of the state government to enforce urban planning regulations and ensure public safety, PeacePro said such enforcement must be guided by human rights principles and social responsibility.
“Makoko is a long-established waterfront community whose residents have lived and worked in the area for generations, adding that the settlement evolved largely due to decades of planning neglect and socio-economic exclusion rather than deliberate disregard for the law,” he said.
Hamzat noted that the ongoing demolition has displaced many residents and exposed them to severe hardship.
“Women and children were the most affected. Urban development must not be pursued through shock enforcement.
“When planning intervention produces homelessness overnight, it ceases to be development and becomes displacement,” Hamzat said.
The organisation called for the immediate suspension of further demolitions and urged the government to open a transparent and inclusive dialogue with affected residents.
PeacePro also demanded the release of a clear resettlement and transition plan that would protect human dignity while addressing legitimate safety and environmental concerns.
The group warned that cities are not made safer by pushing vulnerable populations deeper into poverty and insecurity, stressing that sustainable urban renewal requires inclusion, patience and political will.
It reaffirmed its commitment to peacebuilding and constructive engagement, noting that true governance is defined not by force, but by fairness and empathy.
Makoko, a densely populated waterfront settlement in Lagos, has long faced threats of eviction and demolition due to its informal status and proximity to key urban infrastructure.
Over the years, rights groups and civil society organisations have repeatedly called on the government to adopt inclusive urban renewal policies that balance development with human rights protection.
Previous demolition exercises in waterfront communities across Lagos have often drawn criticism from local and international observers, particularly over the absence of resettlement plans and the impact on livelihoods.
The latest demolition comes amid renewed debate over urban renewal policies in Lagos, with advocacy groups insisting that development must not come at the expense of the poor and vulnerable.
