Groups Pleads With Sanwo-Olu To Save Ilaje Otumara From Further Demolition
... Over 12,000 Lagos Residents Rendered Homeless Amid Ramadan, Lent Fast .... Residents protested and met with government officials, who assured them that they would not be evicted
Civil society organisations in Nigeria have strongly condemned the recent forced eviction of over 12,000 residents from the Ilaje Otumara and Baba Ijora communities, located in Lagos Mainland. This eviction has sparked significant outrage, as it has been perceived as a violation of existing court orders and a betrayal of long-standing positive dialogues between the community and government entities. The outraged organisations have cautioned that such actions might lead to a severe erosion of public trust in the government’s handling of land governance and urban development issues.
In a detailed joint statement, numerous civil society organisations and community leaders criticized the “kamikaze-style” mass eviction, accusing it of grossly disregarding legal protections that had previously been negotiated. They pointed out that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had preemptively marked hundreds of homes and businesses for demolition on February 11, 2025, despite a court injunction that explicitly prohibited such actions without prior consultation and proper resettlement plans.
Residents of the affected areas took to peaceful protests and engaged in dialogue with government representatives, who assured them there would be no evictions. Despite these assurances, on March 7, 2025, community members were met with violence as LASBCA officials, accompanied by police and armed individuals referred to as “area boys,” forcefully demolished homes, leaving residents beaten and displaced.
Thousands are now left without shelter, sleeping in the open and facing an uncertain future. This situation, according to the statement, underscores a potential crisis in trusting the government’s intentions and actions in managing urban development effectively. Civil society member groups have collectively urged the Lagos State Government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, along with the federal government, to immediately stop the eviction, offer support to those affected, and begin rebuilding efforts to restore the communities’ well-being.
Highlighting the timing of the eviction, the statement describes it as particularly heartless, occurring during the holy month of Ramadan and Lent, amid global celebrations of International Women’s Day. The sudden displacement has stripped ordinary citizens of the safety net they desperately need to protect their belongings and themselves against theft, sexual violence, harsh weather, and mosquito-borne diseases. The abrupt eviction destabilizes families, forcing children to discontinue their education and worsening Nigeria’s global position as a country with a high number of children out of school, further aggravating both mental and physical health challenges.
This episode also represents a dramatic setback for efforts aiming for inclusive urban renewal. Ilaje Otumara was among numerous waterfront communities that resisted prior evictions, leading to a landmark court ruling in their favor. This judgment had previously halted similar demolitions, establishing a legal precedent intended to safeguard communities’ rights to dignified treatment. Since mid-2021, the Ilaje Otumara community has been engaged in constructive.
