“You Cannot Hide Poverty by Destroying the Poor” – Fmr Minister Ezekwesili Condemns Makoko Evictions That Left Children Homeless

By Tgnews Reporter

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Former Nigerian Minister of Education and prominent activist Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili has strongly condemned the ongoing demolitions in the historic Makoko waterfront community, accusing federal and Lagos State authorities of “state-sanctioned oppression” and attempting to conceal widespread poverty by displacing the nation’s poorest citizens.

In an open memorandum addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu—titled “The State-Sanctioned Oppression of the Poor in Makoko and the Assault on Constitutional Citizenship”—Ezekwesili described the forced evictions as unconstitutional, inhumane, and a direct assault on the rights of vulnerable residents.

She argued that Makoko’s predominantly poor fishing and trading families, who contribute significantly to Lagos’ informal economy, are being treated as though poverty cancels their citizenship.

“The Nigeria-State can never successfully hide away her poor by seizing their land and killing them,” Ezekwesili wrote in excerpts shared publicly.

She referenced National Bureau of Statistics data showing over 133 million Nigerians (more than 60% of the population) living in multidimensional poverty, questioning how authorities could justify evicting, harming, or rendering invisible such a large segment of society in pursuit of a “world-class” city image.

The demolitions, which began in late December 2025, initially targeted structures allegedly encroaching on high-tension power line setbacks and areas near the Third Mainland Bridge for safety reasons.

However, community leaders, civil society organizations, and residents claim the exercise expanded far beyond agreed limits, destroying homes deep within the stilt-built settlement without adequate notice, compensation, or resettlement plans.

Estimates suggest tens of thousands—up to 80,000 residents according to some advocacy groups—have been affected, with many families now living on canoes in the lagoon, exposed to harsh conditions, lack of sanitation, food shortages, and heightened disease risks.

Particularly distressing are reports of child homelessness and trauma. Displaced children have lost access to schools and routine vaccinations (including measles, polio, and yellow fever), while some accounts describe untreated injuries, malnutrition, and extreme vulnerability.

Ezekwesili specifically highlighted the plight of grieving children and mothers clutching remnants of their belongings, calling for urgent emergency shelter, relief, and justice.

Tragic fatalities have compounded the crisis. Community reports and humanitarian groups indicate at least three to five deaths linked to the operations, including infants (some as young as days old) and an elderly woman, attributed to chaos, tear gas exposure, shock, or related distress during clashes with security forces and demolition crews.

Governor Sanwo-Olu has defended the clearance as essential to prevent tragedy from unsafe structures under power lines and near infrastructure, insisting prior evacuation notices were issued years earlier.

He announced unspecified palliatives, grants, and potential relocation support while accusing some local and international NGOs of exploiting the situation for financial gain. No comprehensive resettlement blueprint has been detailed publicly, fueling criticism that the response falls short of addressing the scale of displacement.

Ezekwesili urged both leaders to “think deeply” and prioritize the majority poor citizens, starting immediately with Makoko’s affected families.

Her intervention has amplified growing domestic and international outrage, with protests at the Lagos State House of Assembly and calls from rights groups for a halt to demolitions, compensation, and accountability.

Makoko—often called the “Venice of Nigeria” for its unique stilt houses over the lagoon—has long symbolized the challenges of urban poverty in Africa’s largest city. The current evictions have reignited debates over balancing development, safety, and the rights of informal settlers in Lagos’ ambitious urban renewal drive.