Makoko Residents File Formal Appeal Against Demolitions

Community representatives from Makoko submitted the appeal this week, arguing that demolition notices were issued without adequate consultation, relocation planning or compensation.

Makoko, a densely populated waterfront settlement in Lagos, has long faced threats of eviction as authorities push urban renewal and environmental enforcement projects. Parts of the community sit on stilts above the lagoon, while others occupy land considered informal by the state government.

Lawyers representing the residents say the appeal seeks an injunction to halt further demolitions until due process requirements are met. They argue that forced evictions without proper notice violate constitutional protections and international housing rights standards.

Local officials, however, maintain that certain structures were marked as illegal or unsafe and insist the clearance operations are necessary for public safety and environmental management. Authorities have previously stated that affected residents were given prior warnings.

Civil society groups monitoring the situation say tensions have been rising in the area, with families reporting property losses and displacement. Some residents claim they were not offered alternative housing before the demolition teams arrived.

Makoko has become a symbol of broader debates in Nigeria over informal settlements, rapid urban expansion and the balance between development and human rights.

The court is expected to review the appeal in the coming days as both sides prepare their submissions.