By Olasunkanmi Akoni
Coalition for Good Governance in Lagos has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu not to abandon the state government’s plan to develop Makoko and ensure evacuation of people living under high tension wires to ensure the safety of lives and property.
Convener and coordinator of the coalition, which comprises over 80 civil society organisations, Comrade Nelson Ekujumi, made the call on Wednesday at a media conference in Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Ekujumi demanded immediate action to ensure the implementation of the government’s urban development programme for Makoko to avert avoidable disaster.
“For the records, we are all living witnesses to the fact that parts of the Makoko community were demolished by the Lagos State Government in 2005 and 2012 as part of its efforts to clean up the community because of its threat to human and public safety,” he said.
“For decades, Makoko stands as one of Lagos’ most controversial urban spaces. To city planners and urban development advocates, it is an eyesore, a floating slum that highlights the city’s planning failures, which need to be addressed to save lives and guarantee public safety.
“Makoko’s challenges are undeniable, as it is estimated to have a population between 80,000 and 250,000 residents, many living in stilted wooden homes over the Lagos Lagoon, with limited access to sanitation, clean water, electricity and waste management.
“Its residents rely heavily on artisanal fishing and informal trade, making them economically vulnerable.”
The coalition therefore called for sincerity of purpose from all parties in the new arrangements going forward, noting that past engagements seemed to have exposed the lack of sincerity, trust and communication lacuna, which was exploited for interests other than the good of the people of Makoko in particular which are over 200 residents and Lagos in general.
“It’s a fact that successive governments in Lagos State have long labelled Makoko an environmental and security hazard, citing living under high tension power lines, flooding, fire risks and unplanned structures as justification for its action,” Ekujumi said.
“From a regulatory standpoint, these concerns are valid; in order, and something ought to be done to correct the observed anomalies.
“As a result of the need to preserve lives and ensure public safety that have been endangered by the residents serial violations of the officially approved distance of structures from under high tension power lines and others the Lagos State government entered into a series of discussions and dialogue with the community leaders and residents by reaching an agreement to address the anomalies, with the residents willingly submitting to comply, and the state as observer to the compliance with the terms of the agreement.
“But unfortunately, from our findings and facts on ground, the residents of Makoko reneged on the agreement reached by not willingly removing structures as promised that violate the distance from the high tension power lines and constituted threat to life and environmental nuisance, hence, forced the government to move in, in fulfillment of it’s primary responsibility which is to save lives and guarantee public safety.
“Unfortunately, the government’s recent demolitions of the illegal structures under the high tension power lines have generated anger, and allegations of insincerity by the residents, who alleged that the government demolitions are in violation of the agreed distance from the high tension power lines after they failed to fulfil their own part of the agreement.”
The coalition expressed concern that the Makoko Waterfront settlement has become a recurring decimal for demolition by successive administrations in Lagos over the arbitrary springing up of residential and other structures under high tension wires, which he said is unhabitable for human living.
It therefore urged Lagos residents to desist from being sentimental on issues which could lead to catastrophe if left unattended, while calling on the government to ensure adequate compensation to victims.
“As human beings, we commiserate with families who have lost their habitations and means of livelihood as a result of the demolitions to save lives and preserve public safety. We urge government to pay compensation to victims affected by the development project.
“But, we must not lose sight of the fact that the government has a responsibility to ensure that its citizens do not engage in actions that amount to attempts to commit suicide and endanger public safety, as doing otherwise will be tantamount to the abdication of its primary responsibility which is condemnable,” the coalition said.
It therefore commended the Lagos Assembly for wading into the issue from escalating into breakdown of law and order but wants acceleration of committee assignment to forge ahead with the demolition for the safety of lives and property.
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