The 2023 Lagos State governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, on Thursday, called on the state government to halt further demolitions of waterfront communities.
He condemned alleged demolitions in Okobaba and Ayetoro communities, adding that it would exacerbate poverty and homelessness in the state.
Rhodes-Vivour, who accused the government of an inhumane approach to urban development, described the actions of the state as “a systemic failure”.
According to him, destroying homes without providing viable alternatives is counterproductive to sustainable urban growth.
Rhodes-Vivour said: “The Lagos State Government’s continued demolition of informal settlements without adequate investment in social housing is a grave injustice that harms the most vulnerable residents and worsens insecurity. The recent destructions in Okobaba, Ayetoro, Sogunro and Iwaya waterfronts represent a short-sighted and inhumane approach to urban development that exacerbates poverty and homelessness.
“These actions reveal a systemic failure and a callous disregard for the lives and livelihoods of low-income communities. Destroying homes without providing viable alternatives is not only morally reprehensible but also counterproductive to sustainable urban growth.
“But for the interruption by the military in 1983, the late Alhaji Jakande had made a commitment to build a low cost housing estate for the people of Ayetoro after moving them away from LSDPC Estate. To claim that the settlement is illegal is deceitful and disrespectful.”
The LP chieftain urged the Lagos State Government to invest in social housing schemes as a long-term solution to slum management.
“Therefore, along with several rights groups, I demand a halt to these vicious demolitions and urge the government to invest in social housing schemes as a long-term solution to managing informal settlements in Lagos,” he added.
On Tuesday, a coalition of civil society organizations and community representatives had also condemned the demolitions, which they referred to as forced evictions of the waterfront communities, calling for an immediate halt to further planned demolitions.
In a joint statement, the group decried the recent evictions in Oko Baba and parts of Ayetoro community, which began on September 14.
According to the coalition, thousands of residents have been displaced, with many now homeless.
The statement was signed by representatives from Justice & Empowerment Initiatives (JEI), the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, Centre for Children’s Health, Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE), Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI), Global Rights, and Enough Is Enough Nigeria.
The government on Saturday issued contravention notices to over 280 illegal property owners and occupiers in the Mayegun Waterfront Scheme, located in the Eti Osa Local Government area of the state.
According to the contravention notices, the occupants are required to provide relevant documentation and approvals that justify their occupation of the properties in question within seven days of the notice, failure of which a demolition notice would be served on them.
“The over 280 properties, which included completed, under-construction, and undeveloped lands, were found to be without any government papers authorising their construction after a detailed technical assessment of the Mayegun Waterfront Scheme by the survey team of the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development charged with the responsibility of maintaining the Lagos State Waterfront Schemes.
“The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon Ekundayo Alebiosu urged the property owners to voluntarily remove their structures before the expiration of the contravention notices served on them or come forward to regularise their documents if they have any to avoid penalty.
“He warned that all the illegal activities along the Waterfront schemes and corridor must come to an end immediately as the State Government will no longer condone or accept people encroaching on government properties, land and setbacks.
“Revealing that the State Government, through the Ministry, is currently sanitising the Okun Ajah waterfront scheme where similar encroachment is, Alebiosu noted that the State Government will not relent in its efforts to protect the State Waterfront Schemes and infrastructure while ensuring the safety of life and properties along the coastal area of the State,” the government said in a statement.