The Kreative Arts Foundation for Community Engagement (KafComE) has appealed to the Lagos State Government to halt the ongoing demolition of the Makoko community to prevent residents from becoming homeless.
The Founder of the non-governmental organization (NGO), Mr Willie Workman, made the appeal in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos.
Makoko, a waterfront community in Lagos State, has been facing demolition exercises since December 2025.
The state government had said the exercise was necessary to remove structures erected within power-line setbacks.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had justified the demolition, saying it was aimed at averting potential tragedies, noting that several residents had constructed shanties beneath high-tension power lines.
However, in its statement on Thursday, the organization said the exercise had displaced many residents and left several families without shelter.
Workman cited Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to an adequate standard of living, including housing.
He, therefore, appealed to the state government to accompany the demolition exercise with adequate compensation or proper resettlement of affected residents.
“The government should prioritize humane resettlement and compensation for those displaced,” he said.
Workman also stressed the need for the government to recognize the community’s right to adequate housing, in line with the United Nations guidelines on development-based displacement.
He urged the state government to ensure the provision of alternative housing for affected residents and to offer special protection for vulnerable groups within the community.
