Publication

Under Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, the security and welfare of the people are enshrined as the foremost obligation of government. Simultaneously, the right to dignity and property, safeguarded by Section 34, establishes that no individual may be forcibly deprived of their possessions or livelihood. In this case, the Lagos State government violated these fundamental rights through arbitrary demolition, carried out without meaningful consultation, notice, compensation, or provision of alternative housing.

This eviction also breached Nigeria's commitments under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR): Article 11 confirms a right to adequate housing, while General Comment number 7 requires that evictions must be carried out only with proper notice, legal remedies, and protection of affected individuals. The operation performed none of these, reducing entire families to homelessness and stripping children of access to school, health services, and safety.

This was not a wayward exercise in city planning; it was a calculated assault on the country's most vulnerable. It signals a policy that treats informal communities as obstacles rather than citizens deserving protection and inclusion. As one displaced resident lamented, “There is nothing here… we are as you see now” a haunting echo of a state that abandoned its own people.

WHAT MUST BE DONE:

1. Immediate moratorium on any further forced evictions in Lagos State; compliance with existing court orders must be non-negotiable.

    

2. Independent investigations into the actions of security personnel and the so-called “area boys” who participated in the demolition.

    

3. Restoration and reparations including compensation, resettlement, alternative housing, and psychosocial support for affected families.

    

4. Legislative reforms to codify procedural safeguards: requiring prior consultation, environmental and human impact assessments, and funding for resettlement.

    

5. Community-led urban renewal: Communities like Ilaje‑Otumara should be included in planning and upgrades rather than treated as slums to eradicate.

What unfolded in Ilaje‑Otumara is not a tragedy beside others; it is a testament to state-sanctioned neglect and the erosion of constitutional dignity. If Lagos wishes to remain “Africa’s Megacity,” it must reconcile its growth with the human rights of those who give it life.