No be small matter wey dey happen for Makoko now-o! Dem demolition wey don start dey cause serious wahala for di waterfront community. Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) don raise alarm say if dem no stop am, e fit turn into big humanitarian crisis for Lagos State.
Abdulrazaq Hamzat, wey be Executive Director of PeacePro, don talk say di way dem dey carry out di demolition no get sense. E no dey humane at all. E begin dey affect women and children pass, as many don lose their homes overnight. Wetin we fit call development when e dey turn people to refugees? Na serious gbege we be this, my people!
Hamzat still talk say dem dey forget di human rights matter as dem dey enforce urban planning laws. A place like Makoko don dey exist since way back, and na di government neglect wey cause dis whole wahala. Na wetin dem suppose consider, instead of just bulldozing houses without care.
PeacePro don urge di Lagos State Government make dem halt di demolition sharp-sharp and sit down for table with di residents to talk. Di government suppose bring plan to settle dem people wey dem don scatter, so that we fit protect dem dignity and also address di environmental concerns wey dey exist.
As e dey hot now, many residents don lose everything. Dem dey sleep for boat, churches, and even open space! Na wah! Instead of dem to build community, dem dey push people deeper into poverty. If dem no act fast, Makoko fit turn yonder comot person wey don get something for hand.
And e no be only Makoko. Many communities for Lagos dey face similar stories. Dem dey demolish houses up and down, and di situation dey bad. Oko-Baba, Ayetoro, Baba-Ijora and other places don fall victim for dis kind of wahala before. Dis thing dey happen like movie wey no wan end.
Nigerians wey dey follow dis matter don dey shout say if dem no change di way things dey go, dem go lose di culture and livelihood wey plenty communities get. E be like say di government dey carry people go illegal eviction level, while dem dey overlook di reality of housing crisis wey don dey affect millions for dis city. Wetin we go do now?
Di coalition of rights groups don call for di government make dem respect court orders and stop di violence wey dey happen during di demolitions. Dem dey urge dem to focus on sustainable development wey go fit balance di human rights matter and also keep activist community alive.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
