SPEAKERS CALL FOR UNITY OF COMMUNITY PEOPLE IN THE STRUGGLE
On 15 March 2026, the people of Makoko held a mass meeting to discuss the next line of action in the struggle against the demolition of the waterfront area of the community. About 100 people including baales (community heads), the elderly, youth, men and women attended the meeting. Members of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), civil society groups like Justice for Empowerment Initiatives (JEI) and neighboring communities, which are also affected by the demolition spree of the Lagos State government, were also in attendance.
By Davy Fidel
The guest speaker was Femi Falana SAN, a foremost civil rights lawyer and activist. Other speakers include Hassan Taiwo Soweto of the DSM and #EndBadGovernance Movement Lagos and Megan Chapman of JEI, who has been working with the community people for over a decade.
Following the January 28 mass protest, the Lagos government was forced to stop the demolition in Makoko and the State House of Assembly asked the community to send representatives for discussion and negotiation. The community people demand a total stop to the unjust demolition and adequate compensation to the victims of the demolition that has already been carried out. Rather than being evicted, the community people want to be accommodated into any development plan that would make their living condition decent and ensure the continuation of fishing which is their major occupation.
However, it has been reported in the media what the government is planning to do is relocation of residents of Makoko and neighboring communities to Agbowa in Epe. In other words, the plan is to evict the community people and transfer the land to developers to build luxury estates for the rich including top government functionaries.
Speaker after speaker at the meeting underscored the importance of the community people staying united and fight in order to win the struggle against the forced eviction. It is also imperative for the community to be prepared to work together with genuine civil society groups whose solidarity could help strengthen their hand in the struggle. Falana assured the people that he is going to stand with them legally and politically as long as they are ready to fight while Soweto reaffirmed the continued solidarity and support of the coalition of civil society groups which helped organize the January 28 protest.
Members of the DSM and #EndBadGovernance Movement Lagos have been very active in showing solidarity to the struggle against the latest round of demolition and forced eviction in Makoko which started in late December 2025. We have also helped build a coalition of different communities affected by demolitions beyond Makoko as well as civil society groups for a joint campaign and struggle, something that led to the January 28 protest. It should also be recalled that Soweto, along with Dele Frank, is currently standing trial because of a leading role he played in the protest.
At the meeting, 40 copies of Socialist Democracy, the paper of the DSM, which has an article on “Unjust Demolitions and Forced Evictions” were sold.
Nigeria Solidarity 