Makoko: When Urban Renewal Becomes a Humanitarian Disaster
By Kome Odhomor

By any standard of governance, the ongoing demolition of homes in Makoko, Lagos, is deeply troubling. What is unfolding in this historic waterfront community is not merely an urban planning exercise; it is a humanitarian crisis created by policy choices that appear to ignore human dignity, due process, and the lived realities of the urban poor.

Makoko, a century-old fishing settlement overlooking the Third Mainland Bridge, is home to hundreds of thousands of residents whose lives are intricately tied to the Lagos Lagoon. For generations, fishing has sustained families, funded education, and anchored a resilient community. Yet, since late December 2025, demolition squads backed by armed security operatives have reduced large sections of the community to rubble, displacing families without prior consultation, adequate notice, or clear resettlement plans.

The justification offered by the authorities—that structures near power transmission lines pose safety risks—might appear reasonable at face value. However, the manner of execution raises serious questions. Residents insist that demolitions extended far beyond the agreed safety corridor of 100 metres, sweeping away homes, schools, clinics, and places of worship. By the time civil society organisations visited the area, hundreds of structures had already been destroyed, rendering thousands homeless.

More disturbing are the human stories emerging from Makoko. Families speak of homes destroyed without warning, belongings lost, and nights spent sleeping in canoes on the lagoon. There are accounts of teargas deployment during demolition, fires consuming buildings, and the tragic deaths of children and vulnerable persons amid the chaos. These are not statistics; they are lives irreversibly altered by state action.

Makoko’s plight is not new. Like many informal settlements in Lagos, the community has long lived under the shadow of eviction, often linked to the city’s mega-city ambitions. The memory of the Maroko demolitions of the 1990s—when over 300,000 people were displaced—still lingers as a painful reminder of how urban development can be pursued without regard for social justice. To see a similar pattern repeating itself decades later is both disappointing and alarming.

Urban renewal is not inherently wrong. Cities must evolve, infrastructure must be protected, and safety concerns must be addressed. But development that destroys livelihoods, displaces families without alternatives, and deepens inequality cannot be described as progress. A government committed to inclusive growth must recognise that housing is not a privilege, but a right, and that the urban poor are stakeholders, not obstacles, in city planning.

Today, Makoko’s children are out of school, parents are struggling to preserve fishing-based livelihoods, and families face exposure to the elements without access to clean water, sanitation, or healthcare. Insecurity has increased, and fear has replaced the fragile stability that once defined daily life in the community.

The Lagos State Government must halt further demolitions and open genuine dialogue with Makoko residents. Any safety-driven intervention must be transparent, legally grounded, and accompanied by humane resettlement options. Forced evictions without consultation or compensation undermine public trust and violate fundamental human rights principles.

Makoko did not emerge overnight, and it cannot be erased without consequences. How Lagos treats its most vulnerable communities will define the moral character of its development agenda. Urban progress should uplift people, not push them into deeper poverty. Anything less is a failure of governance and compassion.

Kome Odhomor, is of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)

Makoko: When Urban Renewal Becomes a Humanitarian Disaster
By Kome Odhomor

Troops receive rescued kidnap victims, arrest suspected gunrunner in Cross River

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of 82 Division/Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA (OPUK), have received eight rescued kidnap victims from the Cameroonian Armed Forces and arrested a suspected gunrunner in Cross River State, the Nigerian Army has said.

Sources told Zagazola Makama development is contained in a security update on activities in the Area of Responsibility (AOR) of the formation as at Jan. 20.

According to the sources troops of 13 Brigade, deployed on patrol along the Ikang waterways, received the eight victims at about 6:16 p.m. on Jan. 18 at the Pastors Fishing Port general area.

The sources said the victims, who were travelling from Nigeria to Cameroon, were kidnapped by suspected sea pirates along the Cameroon waterways but were later rescued by the Cameroonian Armed Forces after a gun battle with the criminals.

“The rescued victims were conveyed to the troops’ Forward Operating Base (FOB), where they were debriefed and subsequently released,” the sourcss said.

In a related development, troops of 13 Brigade, based on credible intelligence, arrested a suspected gunrunner at Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State at about 8:00 a.m. on Jan. 20.

The suspect, identified as Mr Ojo Friday, was apprehended with a total of 245 ammunition cartridges.

The army said the suspect is from Ochon in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State but resides at Abomege in Ebonyi State.

“The suspect and recovered items are currently in custody for preliminary investigation,” the sources added.

The military high command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operations to curb criminal activities and ensure the safety of lives and property across the region.

Troops receive rescued kidnap victims, arrest suspected gunrunner in Cross River

Bandits kill two, abduct one in Niger community

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have killed two persons and abducted another in Kachiwe community, Munya Local Government Area of Niger State, the police have said.

Sources said the attack occurred at about 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 20.

According to eye witnesses, the bandits invaded Kachiwe community in large numbers, shot and killed Ango Abdulkarim, 25, and Abdulkarim Isah, 54, and abducted one Meyaku Ibrahim, 28.

All the victims are Fulani by tribe and residents of Kachiwe community.

“On receipt of the information at about 9:30 a.m., Army troops supported by Police and vigilantes, were swiftly deployed to the scene,” the sources said.

The sources added that by the time the teams arrived, the bandits had fled.

“However, the two corpses were recovered and, on the request of their relatives, handed over for burial,” the sources said.

The security sources said efforts were ongoing through intelligence gathering and monitoring to arrest the perpetrators and rescue the abducted victim.

Bandits kill two, abduct one in Niger community