GENEVA - Nigeria must immediately end all demolitions and violent evictions in waterfront areas of Lagos once and for all, UN experts* said today.
"More and more urban poor in Lagos are losing their homes, access to services and opportunities, while the government justifies these actions in the name of development," the experts said.
The eviction drive which started in July 2023 has already impacted tens of thousands of people in Oworonshoki, Oko Baba, Aiyetoro, Ilaje-Otumara and Baba Ijora, and other communities of the Lagos lagoon, which is considered a prime site for luxury housing development.
"Instead of improving access to basic services and infrastructure for residents, authorities seem to use their longstanding neglect to justify the demolitions," the experts said.
In the latest demolition drive, over 40,000 people were displaced in Makoko, Nigeria's largest informal settlement. "Such large-scale demolitions cause immense human suffering and can constitute domicide, which is a crime against humanity giving rise to individual criminal and civil liability under international law," they said.
Demolitions started on 23 December 2025. Citing safety concerns, the Lagos State government claimed it was removing structures within 30 meters of a high-tension powerline. Yet, demolitions extended well beyond this zone, and affected homes, shops, schools, churches and healthcare facilities.
Residents woke to the sound of excavators bulldozing homes as they were set ablaze.
"Rendered homeless, thousands of residents are now living in dangerous conditions," the experts said. "Families are finding refuge in makeshift shelters or even in canoes, floating among the debris of their former homes. They have nowhere to go."
"International engagement is urgently needed to assist those displaced, prevent further demolitions, and protect communities currently left in a protection vacuum. Without immediate action, displaced families face heightened risks of further forced displacement and serious human rights violations," they said.
When residents protested, the police reportedly intervened with violence, torching homes and firing tear gas. Some people, including children, were reportedly killed and hospitalised with injuries during the operation.
Amid escalating tensions, on 3 February the State government ordered the suspension of demolitions. They agreed to engage with UN agencies to provide immediate assistance and durable solutions for affected people. However, residents remain fearful.
"This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a disturbing pattern," the experts said. The community of Makoko itself had already suffered a major demolition drive in 2012, when over 30,000 people lost their homes, and in 2017.
Evictions must be a last resort only if in-situ improvements to structures are not possible, and be carried out only after genuine consultation, and with adequate notice and safeguards. The Guiding Principles on Resettlement and Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement make it clear that if displacement cannot be avoided, affected people must be resettled in conditions that ensure their right to adequate housing, sustainable livelihoods and cultural cohesion. Authorities must also provide fair and adequate compensation for the lost homes and sources of income.
"We urge the authorities to ensure that the suspension of demolitions remains in place. The priority must now be to provide immediate assistance to those displaced, and engage with communities to develop durable solutions that place human rights at the centre of urban development," the experts said.
The experts have been in contact with the Government of Nigeria regarding these issues.
