Makoko demolitions: Ezekwesili accuses Lagos government of ‘class cleansing’, land grabbing

Former Minister of Education and founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG), Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, has condemned the demolition of homes in Makoko, Lagos, describing the exercise as unconstitutional, unjust and an attack on the rights of poor Nigerians.

In an open memorandum dated January 19 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ezekwesili said the demolitions amounted to what she termed “state-sanctioned oppression of the poor.” She questioned whether poverty had become a basis for denying citizens their constitutional rights.

According to her, residents of Makoko are not squatters but Nigerian citizens who work, raise families and participate in the democratic process. She noted that the demolitions had disrupted livelihoods and education, stressing that many children affected by the exercise are among the brightest she has encountered.

Ezekwesili criticised the Lagos State Government for allegedly violating agreements reached with community leaders. She said residents were initially informed that only structures located within 30 to 50 metres of high-tension power lines would be affected. However, she alleged that demolitions had gone far beyond those limits.

She cited reports by human rights monitors indicating that houses located between 277 and 522 metres from the power lines were also pulled down, describing the development as a “fundamental breach of trust and legality” and likening it to land grabbing.

The former minister further alleged that at least four people were killed during the demolitions, comparing the situation to the biblical account of Naboth and King Ahab. She argued that the exercise had nothing to do with safety or urban development but was instead a deliberate attempt at what she called “vicious class cleansing.”

Ezekwesili warned that the demolitions had triggered a humanitarian crisis, leaving thousands of families homeless. She said many displaced residents were now sleeping in the open, exposed to harsh weather, disease, hunger and violence, while children had been forced out of school and sources of livelihood destroyed.

She called for an immediate suspension of the demolitions, transparency regarding the legal standards governing power-line setbacks, and urgent provision of shelter, healthcare and compensation for affected families. She also demanded accountability for the reported use of force against civilians.

According to her, the demolitions violate constitutional guarantees of dignity, fair hearing and social justice. She urged both federal and state authorities to pursue inclusive urban development strategies, such as in-situ upgrading, secure land tenure, improved sanitation, schools and livelihood support, rather than forced evictions.

Ezekwesili warned political leaders that a society that criminalises poverty while celebrating wealth risks losing its moral compass, urging authorities to urgently address the plight of displaced Makoko residents, especially affected children and grieving families.