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Tag: Makoko

  • Driving Makoko as opportunity for Lagos blue economy

    Driving Makoko as opportunity for Lagos blue economy

    Water as a natural resources is increasingly pulling economic  benefits for communities surrounding it , creating the fad , that is globally gaining traction as the blue economy.

    KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR examines the burgeoning value chain , which  views  water as a foundation for economic activity rather than an obstacle to development.

    Globally, cities surrounded by water continue to generate conversations in environmental and economic quarters on what possible models could be adopted to convert  what appears as  challenges into huge opportunities.

    For this reason, experts continue to expand the conversations on the agenda that  will deliver the desired economic outcomes.

    Lagos, in Nigeria is not left out of this task in turning the curve.

    Wittingly, the  Lagos State’s THEMES agenda identifies the Blue Economy as a strategic priority.

    Leaders in the governance space, have  noted that a megacity with 22 percent  of its territory covered by water requires infrastructure designed for aquatic environments.

    Despite this realization, something strategic has remained missing:

     turning policy language into physical infrastructure that generates measurable economic returns.

    Makoko offers this testing ground. The proposed $10 million Water Cities upgrade matters not just for the estimated 100,000 residents but also because its successful execution will create replicable models for Lagos’s coastline and lagoon systems, which currently represent underutilized economic assets.

    Experts say managers of the governance space should think out of the box and begin to see the

    Blue Economy frameworks, which  view water as a foundation for economic activity rather than an obstacle to development.

    For Lagos, where population density makes waterfront development inevitable, this creates a fundamental choice. The first approach, dominant for decades, relies on displacement and land reclamation.

    The second builds floating infrastructure that preserves ecosystems and communities while creating new economic value. Traditional development treats informal waterfront settlements as economic drains requiring clearance. Blue Economy logic inverts this: communities already living on water possess knowledge about aquatic construction, tidal patterns, and sustainable fishing that engineered solutions must build upon.

    Read Also: Makoko and the disaster Lagos says it could not ignore

    The primary economic opportunity is straightforward. Nigeria imports significant fish protein despite its extensive coastline and lagoon systems, where communities like Makoko have fished for centuries. Integrated aquaculture, combining traditional catch with cage farming, could transform the lagoon from a subsistence fishing ground into a commercial protein production hub. The market already exists. Lagos consumes more fish than local waters currently supply, creating immediate demand for increased sustainable production.

    But the economic value extends beyond fish. The construction expertise developed to build functional infrastructure on water in tropical tidal environments can be exported as intellectual property by Lagos.

    By 2050, urban flooding will affect cities housing 800 million people globally, according to a UN-Habitat report; therefore, infrastructure that remains functional during floods has significant market value. Coastal municipalities from Manila to Miami to Dhaka will need the exact solutions Makoko tests today.

    If Lagos develops and documents these techniques, the city can export climate adaptation expertise to development banks and governments worldwide, generate consulting revenue, and establish regional leadership.

    Tourism adds another dimension. Lagos struggles to differentiate attractions beyond music concerts, hospitality venues, beach resorts, and business conferences. Properly developed, Makoko’s floating architecture and preserved Egun fishing heritage could create a cultural destination that generates visitor revenue while maintaining community character. This works only if the infrastructure upgrade preserves what makes the settlement distinctive rather than replacing it with generic waterfront development.

    These opportunities align directly with the THEMES development agenda. Water-based mobility infrastructure reduces road congestion. Floating health clinics demonstrate delivery mechanisms for populations that traditional infrastructure cannot reach cost-effectively. Schools designed for tidal environments establish architectural standards for waterfront education statewide.

    The Blue Economy framework offers a practical pathway to implement multiple policy priorities simultaneously through integrated aquatic infrastructure.

    The elements for success already exist. Lagos has a policy vision identifying the Blue Economy as a priority. International partnerships through UNDP and UN-Habitat provide technical expertise and partial funding.

    A community with two centuries of experience living on water offers practical knowledge that engineering cannot replicate.

    What determines the outcome is execution. Informal settlements can be upgraded without displacement, making future interventions less contentious than clearance and resettlement. Investment in aquatic infrastructure generates returns through increased productivity and new economic activity, rather than constituting pure social expenditure.

    Success demonstrates that Lagos has the governance capacity to coordinate state agencies, international partners, and community organizations effectively.

    The $10 million Makoko investment tests whether the THEMES agenda’s most forward-looking component produces measurable returns or remains aspirational policy.

     For a state surrounded by water, facing population growth and climate realities, building aquatic infrastructure is essential.

  • Makoko and the disaster Lagos says it could not ignore

    Makoko and the disaster Lagos says it could not ignore

    • By Sola Onamodu

    The debate over the now-paused partial demolition in Makoko has largely focused on displacement, images of loss, and questions of timing. 

    Those concerns are legitimate. But beneath the emotion lies a quieter, less dramatic question the Lagos State Government says it could not ignore: what happens when danger is visible, persistent, and left untouched?

    For years, parts of Makoko existed directly beneath high-tension power lines. Life went on as usual — children played in narrow walkways, traders worked below the cables, and the elderly spent long hours indoors. The risk, however, was constant.

    According to state officials, the decision to intervene was driven not by redevelopment ambitions but by risk accumulation. In densely packed informal settlements, a single electrical fault, fallen cable, or severe weather event can escalate rapidly. Fire spreads faster. Escape routes are limited. Emergency response is slowed.

    In such environments, the most vulnerable — children and the elderly — are often the first to suffer.

    It was this scenario that informed the government’s decision to clear structures in the most dangerous locations, particularly those built directly under high-tension lines. Authorities insist the action was targeted, not indiscriminate, and guided by risk mapping and hazard assessments, rather than a blanket enforcement drive.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu articulated this position bluntly when he said he could not stand by and allow a situation where “hundreds of people could lose their lives in a single incident,” adding that the state would not wait for tragedy before acting. 

    Read Also: Lagos Assembly halts Makoko demolition

    The statement has drawn criticism in some quarters, but it also reflects a familiar dilemma in governance: whether to act early and face backlash, or wait and explain later why nothing was done.

    Beyond electricity, urban safety experts point out that Makoko’s waterfront location exposes it to flooding and fire outbreaks, risks worsened by overcrowding and informal construction. 

    These layered hazards, they argue, make inaction its own form of decision — one that carries consequences.

    Still, the government’s response has not been without adjustment. After clearing the highest-risk structures, the state paused further demolition to allow for a strategic review of safety measures, a move officials describe as an effort to recalibrate next steps and reduce further disruption. 

    Alongside this, a $2 million intervention fund was announced to support affected residents with temporary shelter, financial assistance, and small business support.

    The pause is significant. It suggests that the government recognises the social cost of enforcement and the need to balance safety with humanity. 

    It also reframes the intervention not as a rush to demolish, but as a phased response to an identified risk.

    Ultimately, the Makoko debate raises a broader question about urban governance in Lagos: at what point does visible danger become too great to ignore? For the state, the answer appears to be when the risk of a preventable disaster outweighs the discomfort of early action.

    Whether the government’s approach will win public trust remains to be seen. But its central argument is clear: the intervention was not about the disaster that happened, but about the one it says did not — and should not — happen.

  • Lagos earmarks $2m to build water city from Makoko

    Lagos earmarks $2m to build water city from Makoko

    Lagos State Government has earmarked $2 million as counterpart funding for the redevelopment of Makoko waterfront into a modern water city.

    It said residents affected by recent demolitions would be compensated.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS and Urban Renewal, Dr. Babatunde Olajide, said this yesterday during a news briefing in Alausa, Ikeja.

    Olajide said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had since 2021 set aside $2 million to support the transformation of Makoko waterfront to international standard, as part of a broader urban renewal agenda.

    Flanked by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, and other top government officials, Olajide said the state was already working on a large-scale water city project for the area, stressing that the exercise would be carried out with “a human face”.

    “We have been working on this since 2021. All those affected must be compensated. We have a task force and we are carrying out enumeration. The first thing is to save lives; it is better to be wary than to be late,” he said.

    According to him, urban renewal involves preservation, renovation, regeneration and redevelopment, noting that government’s intervention in Makoko is aimed at improving safety and living conditions, not endangering residents.

    Read Also: Dangote, NNPCL seal gas supply deal

    “If we do not do what is necessary, we will be endangering the lives of the people. However, we must do it in a systematic way and in line with international conventions,” he said.

    He noted that the Makoko intervention was not peculiar, citing similar regeneration projects undertaken by the state in other communities. He recalled a 1992 global agreement in Brazil, which affirmed the right of everyone to adequate shelter, stressing that such housing must be safe and habitable.

    Olajide also revealed that a United Nations delegation visited Makoko in 2021 and pledged support for the redevelopment project, leading to the establishment of a state committee and a series of engagements in Cairo, Washington and other cities.

    “From those meetings, the governor committed $2 million, while we expected about $8 million in counterpart funding from the United Nations. However, many donor agencies and multilateral organisations are facing funding challenges,” he said.

    He added that the state was looking inwards and calling on international partners, donor agencies and business organisations within and outside Nigeria to support the project.

    Olajide cited the relocation of Okobaba community to Agbowa as an example of a successful regeneration project under the current administration, noting that over 300 housing units and equipment worth billions of naira were provided without disruption.

    Mr Omotoso said while protests against demolitions were a fundamental human right, they must not infringe on the rights of others.

    He noted that allegations that the Makoko demolition was anti-people were driven by emotions, stressing that government actions were based on facts and figures.

    Lagos State House of Assembly has invited leaders of Makoko and other waterfront communities for a meeting today, following petitions over the demolition of structures and eviction of residents in the affected areas.

  • Makoko, other demolitions in public interest – Lagos govt

    Makoko, other demolitions in public interest – Lagos govt

    The Lagos State Government has reiterated that ongoing actions in Makoko are driven by the urgent need to protect lives, uphold the rule of law, and advance comprehensive urban renewal initiatives aimed at improving living conditions for residents.

    Addressing recent concerns and public discourse surrounding Makoko on an AIT programme monitored in Lagos, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, clarified that the current intervention is not a conflict between the rich and the poor, but a necessary step toward ensuring safety, legality, and humane living standards for all Lagosians.

    The Commissioner confirmed that the government has been in continuous engagement with the United Nations (UN) regarding the future of Makoko.

    The UN, he noted, has expressed interest in the renewal strategy for the area and has indicated its willingness to support the initiative. Both parties agree that certain sections of Makoko, particularly areas under high-tension power lines, are unsafe and unsuitable for habitation.

    Omotoso revealed that the Government has committed counterpart funding toward the renewal plan and has held several meetings with international partners, including engagements as recent as this week, to ensure a sustainable and humane redevelopment process.

    READ ALSO: The Economist: Nigeria’s economy moving from the brink

    “This is about urban renewal. It is about better living conditions for our people. Government cannot and will not allow residents to remain in environments that pose imminent danger to their lives,” he noted. He added that no human being should reside under high-tension electricity wires due to severe health and safety risks.

    Speaking further, the Commissioner stressed that experts have warned of potential long-term health hazards, including cancer risks, as well as the possibility of catastrophic consequences should any of the power lines collapse – particularly given the proximity to the Lagoon and the Third Mainland Bridge.

    “This is an emergency waiting to happen. Should such a calamity occur, the same voices questioning government action would ask why preventive measures were not taken,” Omotoso noted. He further maintained that building under high-tension wires and within restricted zones violates established physical planning and environmental laws.

    “In Lagos State, there are clear regulations governing setbacks from waterways and infrastructure corridors. These laws exist to protect lives and ensure orderly development”, he said.

     The Commissioner added that Lagos, being the smallest state in Nigeria by landmass yet home to an estimated 25–30 million residents, must maintain strict adherence to planning regulations to ensure sustainability and livability.

    He averred that compensating or legitimising illegal structures erected in clearly restricted zones would undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent. “We cannot allow a situation where individuals build in unauthorised areas – under power lines, near critical infrastructure, or even on bridges – and expect validation after the fact. A city must be governed by laws”, Omotoso stated

    He recalled previous relocation efforts, including the resettlement of timber operators from Makoko to Agbowa in Ikosi, where new facilities, roads, and housing were provided without controversy. The current intervention, he noted, however, specifically concerns emergency safety risks posed by high-tension installations.

    The Makoko situation, he recalled, has been under review for several years, with ongoing discussions between the government, community representatives, and stakeholders.

    He said, “Engagement with residents has spanned approximately five years, and government officials, including the Local Government  Chairman, have maintained consistent dialogue and outreach”, he noted.

    “We are not abandoning anyone. But first, we must save lives. Livelihood is important, but life itself is paramount”, Omotoso added.

    On protests arising from the demotion exercise, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to democratic principles, including the right to peaceful protest. “People have a constitutional right to protest, and this government will not suppress free speech,” he said.

    He, however, stressed that protests must remain peaceful and must not infringe on the rights of others.

    “Blocking major roads, preventing access to hospitals, workplaces, and other essential services, goes beyond the bounds of lawful protest.

    “Where one person’s rights end, another’s begin. Citizens have the right to protest, but others equally have the right to free movement and access to essential services”, Omotoso stated.

    He maintains that the Makoko intervention is a matter of legality, safety, and humane urban planning – not social or economic exclusion.

    The objective, he noted, remains to transform vulnerable settlements into safer, properly planned communities that reflect the standards of a modern megacity.

    He said, “This is not about displacement for the benefit of the wealthy. It is about what is right, what is legal, and what is safe for human habitation.”

    While reaffirming the government’s resolve to pursue orderly urban development, Omotoso assured that efforts will always be made to ensure that interventions are carried out with responsibility, dialogue, and respect for human dignity.

  • Makoko Century-old community faces uncertain future

    Makoko Century-old community faces uncertain future

    Ongoing demolitions in Makoko have left thousands of waterfront residents homeless despite long-standing claims of safety compliance. With no relocation plan in sight, families endure rain, hunger, and uncertainty on the lagoon. It is the story of a community struggling to remain visible in a rapidly changing city, reports Udeh Onyebuchi.

    As the rest of Lagosian wakes up, Makoko is already alive. Fishermen’s wooden canoes glide softly across the lagoon, their paddles slicing through the water with practised ease. A woman balances her goods on the canoe while steering her boat with two hands. Smoke curls from a small stove balanced carefully on a canoe where akara (beans cake) sizzles in hot red oil. Children, bare-chested and laughing, dive into the water, unfazed by the wreckage that surrounds them. Life continues, stubborn and rhythmic, even as Makoko itself is being pulled apart plank by plank

    Makoko is not just a place; it is an idea that has lived for generations in the collective memory of Lagos and Nigeria. Built on water and wood, it is a community where homes rest on stilts driven deep into the lagoon floor—some of those wooden foundations standing firm for more than 20 years, resisting tides. Today, however, the greatest threat Makoko faces is not the water beneath it, but the bulldozers advancing toward it.

    A community standing on history

    To understand Makoko is to understand its long, layered history. Chief Raymond Olaiya Akinsemoyin, the Baale (traditional head) of Makoko, in an interview with Olumuyiwa Ajayi in 2013, said the community’s roots stretch back more than a century. Makoko was originally owned by the Oloto family and later acquired by Ramotu Emmanuel, daughter of Adamo Emmanuel, a descendant of Oba Akinsemoyin of Lagos.

    According to the Baale, Ramotu Emmanuel was a wealthy trader who opened Makoko to commerce, inviting Egun fishermen to bring fish from Ilubirin and surrounding lagoon settlements. What began as temporary resting spaces for traders soon became permanent homes. Over time, Ilaje fishermen followed, as did Yoruba and Igbo families, creating a rare multicultural settlement divided loosely between waterfront and hinterland zones.

    He further narrated that Makoko expanded steadily. Its boundaries once stretched as far as Adekunle, Sabo and Ebute-Meta. Land now occupied by the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department at Panti, the Yaba Local Council Development Area secretariat, and even the Red Cross site were once part of Makoko land donated by the Olaiya family.

    Yet despite its contributions and longevity, Makoko remained officially invisible—an “informal settlement” in the eyes of government, left without infrastructure, planning or protection. Over decades, neglect hardened into policy.

    Policy came crashing down in December 2025

    Residents say the demolitions began without written notice. Taiwo Ojokuno welcomed her new baby to the house that would be demolished later that day. According to her, “nobody issued a warning. They just came and pulled down our houses. It gave me so much stress. It is really painful.”

    She told The Nation that she had lived in Makoko for more than 10 years, during which Makoko had been relatively peaceful. Security was stable. Water, food, trade—everything needed for daily survival existed within the floating community.

    “Boats were not just transport; they were shops, kitchens. Now, many of those same boats have become bedrooms,” she said. 

    Homes turned to canoes

    Across the waterfront, families sleep huddled together inside narrow wooden canoes. Others erect makeshift tents on demolished land, hoping the machines will not return overnight.

    The Nation touring around approached a sixty-five-year-old fisherman Ayodeji Ogunyemi, who said: “The recent rain that fell, there was nowhere to hide. We were trying to cover our children as water soaked our clothes.

    Read Also: Green Earth Action Foundation Sponsors Major Makoko Waterfront Cleanup Challenge in Lagos

    “By morning, bulldozers resumed their work as though nothing happened.

    “I am arranging what remains of my life.

    “As an old man, where do you want me to go?

    “Some don’t even know where to relocate to.

    “That is the problem.”

    Fishing, trading, and hawking continue, not because life is normal, but because survival leaves no alternative. Women still sell goods from canoe to around the demolished shanties while children still swim. 

    ‘A very peaceful slum’

    To outsiders, Makoko is often reduced to a slum. To those who live there, it is home.

    According to Miriam Kushika, a resident of Makoko, who has been in the slum since the start of the demolition, “our community is very peaceful. No one comes to Makoko and wants to leave. We have a hospital, we have a school. Everything was going smoothly until this demolition.”

    She spoke of families torn apart—husbands lost, children dead, futures uncertain. Since December 21, 2025, demolitions have continued intermittently, swallowing homes and livelihoods while residents wait for answers that never come.

    The uncertainty is perhaps the most devastating blow. “We don’t know what the government wants to use the land for. We only see sand filling places that were once water. We are confused,” she said.

    The broken promise of dialogue

    For Shemede Emmanuel, Baale of Makoko Waterfront, the destruction feels less like sudden violence and more like betrayal.

    He recalls months of meetings with government officials and security agencies after plans were announced to clear areas under high-tension power lines. Residents were told to move 30 metres away, then 50, then 100. Each time, they complied—marking boundaries with Nigerian flags bought with their own money, dismantling homes themselves to avoid chaos.

    He said: “We were told it was about safety. Thirty metres, then 50, then 100. We agreed because we wanted peace.”

    Then the bulldozers crossed the agreed line.

    “They did not listen anymore. They did not call us. They did not explain,” he said as machines crushed homes beyond 100 metres. Churches collapsed. Schools were destroyed. Families who had obeyed watched everything they owned disappear.

    Children, schools and a vanishing future

    Among the hardest hit is the Makoko Children Development Foundation School and Orphanage, founded to provide education for orphans and vulnerable children. The school serves about 650 pupils across 14 classrooms, using a boat as a school bus to pick children from their homes each day.

    The founder described how one of the school buildings was destroyed despite being far beyond the initial demolition zone. Tear gas was fired even with children inside the compound.

    “We are begging the government to stop at 100 metres and allow our people to build their houses. People who are affected should rebuild their houses. Also, look for relocation plans,” he said.

    Today, orphaned children remain in the school because there is nowhere else to take them. The playground still echoes with laughter, but the walls around it are scarred by fire and fear.

    Voices from the rubble

    Residents recount stories that statistics cannot capture.

    According to Olorunwa Agosu, she lost her only child during the demolition. “That was the only child left with me. I don’t even have money to travel,” she said.

    To Ome Musa, the situation is different as she sleeps sitting upright in a canoe through the night, waking in between the night. “I sleep sitting up through the night. This is where I sleep. They have removed everything.

    “We are now sleeping in the canoe with the children. All the Eguns are no longer trading.”

    Hubert Hunye, a young resident, left his job to document the demolitions. He films, photographs, and shares images online, hoping someone, somewhere would see and help.

    “Our daily activities are from here because we are fishermen. We do fishing. There’s no way you would take someone who does fishing from the river and say you want to put them on the land.”

    Government’s position

    The Lagos State Government insists the demolitions are about safety, not eviction.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has defended the exercise, saying it is necessary to prevent tragedy near high-tension power lines and the Third Mainland Bridge.

    Speaking after signing the N4.4tn 2026 appropriation bill into law, the governor said the Makoko demolition was carried out to avert tragedy.

    He said: “The safety of lives and property is paramount and must be safeguarded. I just explained to you that a tanker carrying 33,000 litres of fuel fell on a bridge and spilt fuel, and over 100 people were there scooping it.

    “It’s a similar thing we’re doing in Makoko. Of what interest would it be for the government to demolish anyone’s structure if not for the overall safety of citizens?”

    According to him, a lot of people had built shanties under high-tension wires.

    “What we are doing is not demolishing the whole of Makoko. We are clearing areas to ensure they do not encroach on the Third Mainland Bridge and to keep residents away from high-tension lines.

    He continued: “We’ve been on this for two and a half years and have held meetings with them. We cannot fold our arms and allow calamity to happen.”

    Sanwo-Olu also announced that he had ordered relevant authorities to roll out palliative measures for affected residents.

    Permanent Secretary Gbolahan Oki described the clearance as part of urban regeneration, arguing that wider setbacks are legally required and that 100 metres was already a concession.

    “Those opposing are stubborn boys refusing to vacate. The law requires wider setbacks (up to 250 metres), but 100 metres was a concession.

    “If any power line drops into the water, it is the government they will blame,” he explained.

    Between water and the state

    As night falls again, lanterns flicker across the lagoon. Canoes rock gently, carrying traders, children, and the weight of loss. Makoko is still alive—but for how long, no one can say.

    For the families sleeping on canoe beneath open skies, history is not a museum piece. It is something they are watching disappear, one plank at a time.

  • Rights groups condemn demolitions, demand justice for residents of Makoko, others

    Rights groups condemn demolitions, demand justice for residents of Makoko, others

    A coalition of national and international human rights, environmental and social justice organisations has condemned what it described as systemic, illegal and cruel forced evictions by the Lagos State Government in waterfront and informal communities, including Makoko, Oworonshoki, Ilaje-Otumara, Baba Ijora and Owode Onirin.

    In a joint statement signed by signed by Israel Idowu , Student Coordinator, Makoko Waterfront community, Comrade Abiodun Ahmed – Chairman, Owode Motor Spare Parts Market, Comrade Tunde Yusuf – Secretary, Ajegunle Peoples Movement (APM), Olanrewaju Olusegun – Secretary, Coalition of Oworonshoki Demolition Victims, Betty Abah, Founder, Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEЕНОРЕ), Comrade Alex Omotehinse – President, Center for Human and Social Economic Rights (CHSR), Zikora Ibeh – Assistant Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and Opeyemi Adamolekun.

    The groups accused the government of clearing prime land for elite and private developments under the guise of “urban renewal,” without adequate notice, consultation, compensation or resettlement.

    They said the demolitions have created mass homelessness, disproportionately affecting fishermen, traders, women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, and worsening poverty, food insecurity and social instability.

    The coalition cited a recurring pattern of demolitions dating back to Otodo Gbame (2016–2017) and more recent actions in Oworonshoki, Ilaje-Otumara, Baba Ijora and Makoko.

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    The statement noted that court orders were ignored, security operatives used force and tear gas, residents were detained, and livelihoods were destroyed. In Makoko alone, the groups claimed over 3,000 homes have been demolished since December 2025, displacing more than 10,000 people, with reported injuries and deaths.

    Rejecting government claims that the demolitions were for safety reasons, the organisations argued that actions went beyond legal setbacks and reflected long-term neglect of informal settlements.

    They demanded an immediate halt to demolitions, emergency shelter and services for displaced persons, full compensation, accountability for abuses, an inclusive resettlement plan, and a public apology from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, warning that the evictions undermine Lagos’ claim to global-city status.

    Lagos cannot claim global-city status while treating its poorest residents as disposable,” the statement noted that failure to ensure justice, compensation and resettlement would remain a “permanent stain” on the state’s governance record.

  • Makoko tour that turns our poverty into profit

    Makoko tour that turns our poverty into profit

    By Emmanuel Abiodun Oke

    I recently stumbled across a disturbing reality while doing a simple Google search after someone shared a screenshot with me to confirm the authenticity of the content. When I typed “Makoko Community Tour on Trip Advisor,” what I found next left me speechless. A company is charging tourists $198—an equivalent of NGN316,800 at today’s exchange rate—to take a tour through the heart of Makoko, one of Nigeria’s most impoverished communities. This isn’t just tourism; this is exploitation, plain and simple. But the question remains: Is this tour even right in the first place? Should the pain and poverty of a community be turned into an attraction for outsiders?

    For those unfamiliar, Makoko floating community is often referred to as the “Venice of Africa,” but that moniker barely scratches the surface of the realities on the ground. Located on the edge of Lagos, Makoko is a floating underserved community where makeshift houses sit on stilts above polluted waters. It is home to thousands of people, mostly fishermen, most of who live without access to clean water, electricity, or basic healthcare. For decades, the government has turned a blind eye to the needs of this community, with minimal investment in infrastructure or social services.

    The people of Makoko, welcoming and unsuspecting as they are, have no idea that this hefty fee is being collected at their expense. Worse still, the proceeds are lining the pockets of tour companies in cahoots with some youths who allow the visitors to come and gawk at the living conditions of our people. It’s a system I would label as “poverty voyeurism,” a term that seeks to describe the phenomenon where tourists, driven by a desire to witness extreme poverty first-hand, come to communities like ours only to leave feeling enlightened, without understanding the deeper ramifications of their visits.

    This isn’t merely a social media trend or an opportunity for a quick snap with locals to post on Instagram. It’s a gross commodification of our struggles, turning the lived experiences of people in Makoko into a spectacle for profit. The visitors get a tour, complete with boat rides through our floating community; meet with unsuspecting residents, for the price of a luxury dinner. Meanwhile, the people of Makoko receive nothing. It’s an unforgivable exploitation of the very real hardships we face daily. And to make matters worse, there are no real efforts from these companies to reinvest even a portion of the money back into the community for healthcare, education, or infrastructure.

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    As an individual who was born and raised in the community and has dedicated my life to its betterment, this breaks my heart. The government’s neglect has only exacerbated the situation, with its interventions focused on recognizing and increasing chieftaincy titles of community leaders instead of tackling the systemic problems that have kept Makoko in the shadows for decades. Along with the government’s prioritization of high-end development projects like Eko Atlantic City, slum dwellers have been left marginalized. Many communities, such as Makoko, remain without essential public infrastructure like clean water, sanitation, or proper housing.

    But it doesn’t have to be this way. True empowerment is not found in putting people’s poverty on display. It is found in giving them the tools and opportunities to rise above it. I am a testament to that fact. Alongside my brother, Noah Olorunwa Shemede, who founded the Whanyinna School in 2009—the first tuition-free school in Makoko—I have been part of the effort to confront the number of out-of-school children in our floating community. Noah has continued to contribute his personal resources, leveraging his network and the goodwill of people who reach out, all to bridge the education gap and empower families in our community even in the face of limited resources. We do this, driven solely by our commitment to building a better future for the children of Makoko, because we believe in the transformative power of education to break the cycle of poverty and empower individuals to create lasting change in their lives and communities.

    This is the kind of change Makoko needs—education, empowerment, and opportunity, not pity tours that glorify our misery for outsiders. Visitors who genuinely care should be coming to offer support, not to feed their curiosity about poverty. Let them come to see the resilience of our people, our efforts to rise despite the odds, and our capacity to create change when given the opportunity. As a matter of solution, ethical tourism is a solution that comes to mind. These companies should partner with the community youths, leaders and NGOs, creating ways for visitors to give back directly by investing in schools, healthcare centres, or sustainable development projects that truly empowers the residents.

    This is a call for action! Let us advocate for improved living conditions and real support for the people of Makoko. Let’s reject this degrading “poverty voyeurism” and work toward true empowerment and transformation. Makoko should not be defined by its slum; it is a testament to the resilience, strength, and potential of its people.

    •Oke is of University of Georgia School of Social Work, Georgia, United States.

  • The Makoko tour that turns our poverty Into profit

    The Makoko tour that turns our poverty Into profit

    By Emmanuel Abiodun Oke

    I recently stumbled across a disturbing reality while doing a simple Google search after Noah shared a screenshot with me to confirm the authenticity of the content. When I typed “Makoko Community Tour on Trip Advisor,” what I found next left me speechless. A company is charging tourists $198—an equivalent of NGN316,800 at today’s exchange rate—to take a tour through the heart of Makoko, one of Nigeria’s most impoverished communities. This isn’t just tourism; this is exploitation, plain and simple. But the question remains: is this tour even right in the first place? Should the pain and poverty of a community be turned into an attraction for outsiders?

    For those unfamiliar, Makoko Floating community is often referred to as the “Venice of Africa,” but that moniker barely scratches the surface of the realities on the ground. Located on the edge of Lagos, Nigeria’s most populated city, Makoko is a floating underserved community where makeshift houses sit on stilts above polluted waters. It is home to thousands of people, mostly fishermen, most of whom live without access to clean water, electricity, or basic healthcare. For decades, the government has turned a blind eye to the needs of this community, with minimal investment in infrastructure or social services.

    The people of Makoko, welcoming and unsuspecting as they are, have no idea that this hefty fee is being collected at their expense. Worse still, the proceeds are lining the pockets of tour companies in cahoots with some youths who allow the visitors to come and gawk at the living conditions of our people. It’s a system I would label as “poverty voyeurism,” a term that seeks to describe the phenomenon where tourists, driven by a desire to witness extreme poverty firsthand, come to communities like ours only to leave feeling enlightened, without understanding the deeper ramifications of their visits.

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    This isn’t merely a social media trend or an opportunity for a quick snap with locals to post on Instagram. It’s a gross commodification of our struggles, turning the lived experiences of people in Makoko into a spectacle for profit. The visitors get a tour, complete with boat rides through our floating community, meet with unsuspecting residents, for the price of a luxury dinner. Meanwhile, the people of Makoko receive nothing. It’s an unforgivable exploitation of the very real hardships we face daily. And to make matters worse, there are no real efforts from these companies to reinvest even a portion of the money back into the community for healthcare, education, or infrastructure.

    As an individual who was born and raised in the community and has dedicated my life to its betterment, this breaks my heart. The government’s neglect has only exacerbated the situation, with its interventions focused on recognizing and increasing chieftaincy titles of community leaders instead of tackling the systemic problems that have kept Makoko in the shadows for decades. Along with the government’s prioritization of high-end development projects like Eko Atlantic City, slum dwellers have been left marginalized. Many communities, such as Makoko, remain without essential public infrastructure like clean water, sanitation, or proper housing.

    But it doesn’t have to be this way. True empowerment is not found in putting people’s poverty on display. It is found in giving them the tools and opportunities to rise above it. I am a testament to that fact. Alongside my brother, Noah Olorunwa Shemede, who founded the Whanyinna School in 2009—the first tuition-free school in Makoko—I have been part of the effort to confront the number of out-of-school children in our floating community. Noah has continued to contribute his personal resources, leveraging his network and the goodwill of people who reach out, all to bridge the education gap and empower families in our community even in the face of limited resources. We do this, driven solely by our commitment to building a better future for the children of Makoko, because we believe in the transformative power of education to break the cycle of poverty and empower individuals to create lasting change in their lives and communities.

    This is the kind of change Makoko needs—education, empowerment, and opportunity, not pity tours that glorify our misery for outsiders. Visitors who genuinely care should be coming to offer support, not to feed their curiosity about poverty. Let them come to see the resilience of our people, our efforts to rise despite the odds, and our capacity to create change when given the opportunity. As a matter of solution, ethical tourism is a solution that comes to mind. These companies should partner with the community youths, leaders and NGOs, creating ways for visitors to give back directly by investing in schools, healthcare centers, or sustainable development projects that truly empowers the residents.

    This is a call for action! Let us advocate for improved living conditions and real support for the people of Makoko. Let’s reject this degrading “poverty voyeurism” and work toward true empowerment and transformation. Makoko should not be defined by its slum; it is a testament to the resilience, strength, and potential of its people.

     Oke writes from the University of Georgia School of Social Work, Georgia. 

  • ‘My drive for social change inspired book on Makoko’

    ‘My drive for social change inspired book on Makoko’

    Chioma Okereke, a UK/Nigerian writer and author of Bitter Leaf, has unveiled her second novel, Water Baby. The captivating coming-of-age story is set in Makoko and explores the societal pressures faced by a young woman striving to escape her community. It also addresses broader issues such as climate change and resettlement, highlighting the challenges and aspirations of individuals in under-resourced areas.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the book reading session recently in Lagos, Okereke, a lawyer said that her writing is deeply rooted in her belief in literature’s ability to drive societal change. She aims to inspire empathy for the Makoko settlement, urging Nigerians to contribute to meaningful societal solutions. Through her novel, she invites readers to envision a world where social responsibility and compassion are paramount.

    On what inspired her writing of the book, she said: “I was watching a food programme, which took place within the community and I was fascinated by the setting, which is just so atmospheric. Watching the American chef navigates Makoko in a way that I had never thought of as a Nigerian myself. So, I guess confronted with my ignorance, I went and researched the community. Again, while watching that programme, I had this snapshot of a character, which was Baby. And so I knew I had to write her story, whatever her story was going to be.”

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    Was it just another adventure for Okereke, she said: “I am an author, so it started as writing a book. So, having gone to the community to ensure that I did write something accurately, I was moved by what I saw with my own eyes, and so I knew I couldn’t just leave it as a novel. I am happy that it may shed some awareness and spread some light, and people who don’t know about the Makoko community may learn a little bit more”.

    “My writing is a reflection of my belief in the power of literature to effect change. It’s an invitation to readers to join me in envisioning a world where social responsibility and compassion guide our actions. And I hope that the book encourages readers to look beyond their immediate surroundings and recognise the interconnectedness of our global community. By bringing attention to Makoko and similar under-resourced and often overlooked communities, I hope to inspire a sense of empathy and a desire for social justice. My goal is to use storytelling as a vehicle for change, to spark conversations, and to motivate individuals to contribute to meaningful solutions.”

    Highlighting the novel’s significance, she said: “I think sometimes we don’t think about people that live in that community. So, I hope that by humanising Baby’s story and the other stories in that, you see them as real people navigating the world just much like yourself. I hope that it inspires the government to see that there are real changes that can be made to allow people to live more comfortably and also that improve Nigeria as a whole because Makoko is part of Lagos whether you like it or not”.

    Set primarily in Makoko, a floating slum off mainland Lagos, Nigeria, the novel features a descriptive and engaging writing style, focusing on themes of aspiration and identity. The protagonist, Baby, is a determined young woman with dreams beyond her community.

  • I have 100 indigent pupils who learn free of charge – Makoko School proprietor

    I have 100 indigent pupils who learn free of charge – Makoko School proprietor

    Just one visit as a corps member, and Bawo Ayeseteminikan decided that Makoko was place for him to settle after school. Consequently, he has run a primary school in the deprived community for well over three decades, helping to liberate the children from the shackles of illiteracy at next to nothing. He shares his story with Gboyega Alaka.

    Clearly, Ken-Ade Private School is one for the low income earning class; was it intentional?

    In 1987 as an NYSC corps member in orientation Camp in YabaTech, Lagos, we embarked an Endurance Walk and stumbled on this community. I found it peculiar and wondered what sort of people lived in an environment like this. So after my service year, I took a decision to come back and see things for myself. Incidentally, I found out that most of the people living here were people from my side of the country, Ilaje people from Ondo State. Of course there were also the Egun people from Badagry. These are people who have a passion for the same occupation – fishing. But it also occurred to me that they needed to educate their children. Then, there were only about three public schools located in a complex not too far away, serving the community. But despite the close proximity of these schools, the parents refused to send their children there for various reasons. So I told them I would like to help educate their children. I told them all I needed was a space; so we started in a church premises. We had four kids, and it was pay as you come; ten kobo at the time.

    You were a fresh graduate, yet you chose this path?

    Yes,  with my black hair (smiles). Now I’m in my late sixties. When they saw what I was doing, the number increased. Soon, we needed a bigger space and eventually we got this place. Today, I am glad to tell you that I have produced many graduates. That was my desire, to make a great impact on the lives of their children, so that when I die, the people would remember for it.

    In 2004, I was discovered the same way Mungo Park was said to have discovered River Niger (smiles) by a certain Professor James Tooley, a professor of Education Policy from Newcastle University, UK. He was understudying what schools were doing to help the low income families and came Makoko. He saw that I was doing something remarkable and broadcast it to the world. He invited the BBC, they were with me for more than two weeks, capturing how the children were responding, how they were reading, writing and all sorts. I was invited to the USA around September 2005 to tell the world what I was doing. From there, I went to several places around the world. I told them what I was doing to help the low income families get education and pull them out of illiteracy and poverty. So far, so good, I have produced pupils who have gone on to become university graduates, and working in big places and positions. We also started a secondary school towards Sabo (nearby community) two years ago. Today, the primary school alone has over five hundred pupils, while the secondary school has two hundred pupils.

    You must have a degree in education to have embarked on this mission.

    I actually studied Town and Regional Planning, but when I dabbled into this project, I had to go back and take courses in Education.

    How easy was it to get this place?

    When I started and parents saw what I was doing, some people who had the courage to sponsor some pupils took up the challenge by paying for them to attend. Those were the monies I gathered to purchase and put this place together.

    What were the challenges you faced when you started this place?

    The challenge was poor or non-payment of school fees. They know we’re doing our best but because of their capability, they are not able to pay. That problem still persists. Aside that, the number of pupils that come is more than the space we have. Even as I’m talking to you, we have about 50 in a class.

    What is the range of school fees?

    Like I said, it was ten kobo per day when we started, but today, the range is around nine to ten thousand naira per term. Some still pay lower than that but the highest is eleven thousand naira.

    You’re saying the parents still struggle to pay nine thousand for a term?

    Serious struggle. Some owe up to three years.

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    How do you deal with such situation; do you send them home?

    That’s the language most of them understand. When you send their children home, the money comes out. Some owe up to two to three years and pay when they have the money. And some, probably because of their poor educational background, feel that once they pay for the first term, it covers the whole of year. Aside that, the children are willing to learn.

    Do you have people who disturb your work, like area boys or government officials

    The area boys you’re talking about are part of the reasons I founded this place. Many generation of them passed through me or their brothers or sisters, so even when they’re fomenting their trouble, you could hear them saying, ‘Baba is coming, he must not see us here.’  Outside that, we have the flood that comes in on seasonal basis. But it doesn’t get as bad as to force us to close the school or send the pupils home. The council people come but we have a way of settling issues.

    How bad was it in the beginning. Were there any other schools outside the three government schools you talked about?

    There were private schools within the community outside the so-called public schools. I remember vividly when James Tooley came with his people, they wanted to know if I was the only private school, but I told them we were many. Incidentally, we were to have a meeting that day, so they came and met them. But then, the sizes differ.  There are those that have 50 pupils, 70, 30; at that time, I had about 128. Most of them still exists, but they don’t have my population.

    They even found out that most of my pupils were doing better than the public schools’. Eventually, the government granted us the right to be writing the primary six exams, and they came out to tell us in black and white that, ‘your children performed excellently well, but financially you are lagging behind’. But that is because of the area we’re domiciled in. Government was also a threat to us then, saying they wanted to clamp down on schools that were not approved, but through the intervention of James Tooley, who told them how we were doing so much, they mellowed down. What we are doing is helping to arrest the problem of out of school children. I have about 500 pupils in this school, but about 100 of them pay nothing at all. They come, learn and go. The parents manage to buy books for them, but as per the school fees, that is my own contribution. That is my own scholarship to them.

    How then do you pay your teachers?

    From the token I get from the paying parents. The teachers also understand what I’m doing, so they also don’t insist on standard salary obtainable in the labour market.

    That means most of them are transitional teachers; when they get better opportunities or offer, they move.

    Yes, yes, but some of them have also been with me for the past 22 years. I have about nine of them who have been with me for long. They see what we do here as part of how they can also contribute to the community. We also have few of them who passed through this school. They’ve been to higher institutions and now came back to pay back.

    Your biological children, how far have they gone?

    They also passed through this school. Three of them are graduates. One is a medical director at one of the General Hospitals in Ondo State; one has got his first degree, second degree and on another degree; I don’t know what he wants to do with the degrees. He’s into tech. I have another, also working in the tech space. Whenever they write their resume, this primary school will have to come first.

    Have you tried to get grants to improve the place?

    That’s another problem. Professor James Tooley actually did fantastically well by helping us access some grant which we used in buying the space for the secondary school. Outside that, I have not been able to get any kind of grants, because I’m not able to meet the requirements. The fact that we’re in sub-Saharan Africa has also not augured well for us, plus the fact that the funds sometimes get diverted.