Residents of Makoko, the famous stilted fishing community in Lagos often dubbed the “Venice of Africa,” are enduring heartbreaking evictions as government bulldozers raze homes, leaving families with nowhere to go. One man fled his house in panic as an excavator approached on a recent Tuesday, escaping with just the clothes on his back – a shirt and trousers – and no shoes. He now sleeps on the damp, grimy floor of a small canoe alongside his brother, uncertain about his family’s future shelter.
Community leader Francis Samson Vituwa highlighted the widespread suffering, noting that thousands of locals find themselves in the same desperate position. Mr Vituwa, whose family traces back to his grandfather’s settlement in Makoko, described life there as fulfilling before the demolitions. “It’s a good life here,” he told The New York Times, explaining how the community had enabled him to provide for his wife and educate his five children. “There’s no good coming from this,” he added, expressing deep worry over the ongoing destruction.
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This week, affected residents took their grievances to the Lagos State House of Assembly, staging protests to demand a halt. Officials reportedly promised on two occasions to suspend the operations, according to Megan Chapman, co-director of Justice & Empowerment Initiatives, a group advocating for the community. Yet, despite these assurances, the heavy machinery has continued its work, flattening more structures.
“There is still a community to save,” Ms Chapman emphasised in her comments to The New York Times, underscoring the urgency as homes vanish into the lagoon.
Makoko, built on stilts over Lagos Lagoon, has long been home to thousands of fishermen and their families, many from migrant backgrounds. The demolitions, part of broader urban development plans, aim to clear areas deemed illegal or environmentally risky, but critics argue they disregard residents’ rights and livelihoods. With Nigeria’s housing crisis already acute – millions lack affordable homes amid rapid urban growth – these evictions exacerbate hardship for vulnerable communities.
For the UK’s Nigerian diaspora, stories like Makoko’s resonate deeply, evoking concerns about family ties back home. Many in Manchester or London send remittances to support relatives in Lagos, and such disruptions could strain those networks further. Rights groups call for humane alternatives, like relocation support or community consultations, to balance development with dignity.
As the bulldozers roll on, Makoko’s future hangs in the balance. Residents cling to hope that pledges to pause will hold, but the reality on the water tells a different story. The New York Times report sheds vital light on a crisis that demands attention from Lagos authorities and beyond.
Facts and quotes in this report are drawn from “Thousands Evicted From Makoko, the ‘Venice of Nigeria'” by Ruth Maclean, published in The New York Times on January 16, 2026. New Daily Prime credits the NYT for original reporting while providing this summarised version for our readers.
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