BULLDOZERS tore through homes in Lagos’s Otumara neighbourhood on Friday, forcing hundreds of families from their homes in yet another wave of slum demolitions in Nigeria’s largest city. According to AFP, residents were given just 30 minutes to vacate, leaving many without shelter or an alternative housing solution.
‘They took us by surprise, and I don’t even know where to go now,’ said Victoria Ajah, a displaced resident who scrambled to collect her belongings before her home was reduced to rubble.
The demolition was carried out not only by construction crews but also by unidentified men claiming to act as security personnel, who reportedly threatened journalists covering the event.
This latest demolition highlights a broader pattern of evictions in Lagos’s informal settlements, where working-class communities face increasing pressure from land disputes, urban renewal projects, and a booming property market catering to the city’s wealthy elite.
Demolitions continue despite court order
The forced evictions in Otumara proceeded despite a 2017 court ruling prohibiting such actions without a proper relocation plan for residents. The ruling, seen by AFP, ordered Lagos State to halt further evictions in Otumara and nearby settlements until consultations were held on how best to relocate affected residents.
‘This destruction is a violation of the law and the Lagos High Court ruling,’ said Megan Chapman, co-director of the Justice and Empowerment Initiatives (JEI), an NGO advocating for housing rights.
According to Chapman, a powerful family with links to the Lagos State government is seeking to take control of the land, though the exact reasons remain unclear. The Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency did not respond to AFP’s request for comment.
Rising land disputes and housing crisis in Lagos
Housing insecurity has been a persistent issue in Lagos, where a combination of unclear land ownership laws, alleged corruption, and rapid urban expansion has pushed low-income residents into precarious living conditions.
Lagos’s rising cost of living and real estate boom have also contributed to displacement. With an influx of wealthy investors and expatriates willing to pay rent in US dollars, landlords are increasingly prioritising high-paying tenants over long-term, lower-income residents.
The Otumara neighbourhood, situated close to Lagos’s wealthier island districts, is considered prime real estate, making it a target for developers despite its long-standing working-class community.
A citywide pattern of forced evictions
This is not the first time Lagos authorities have cleared out informal settlements without warning. In September 2023, the nearby Oko Baba Sawmill community was also demolished. Other settlements, including Makoko, famous for its stilt houses over the Lagos Lagoon, remain under constant threat of eviction.
Many of Otumara’s residents have spent years living in fear, with no official eviction date provided before Friday’s sudden demolitions. ‘People have nowhere else to go. Most of them were born and raised here. Others came to Lagos years ago to build a life. I don’t know what we will become,’ said Ajah.
As Lagos continues to expand, the future of its informal communities remains uncertain, with land disputes and urban renewal efforts displacing thousands.
