FORCED EVICTION AND ARBITRARY DEMOLITION OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT IN NIGERIA

There have been several forceful evictions in Nigeria through demolition of human settlements in different parts of the country both by the federal and state authorities respectively. Communities affected by the most recent instances of demolitions include those in the waterside in Port Harcourt, Rivers, State; Mpape in the Federal Capital Territory; and Makoko in the Lagos waterfront. Cumulatively, the numbers of people estimated to be affected are said to be in the hundreds of thousands or more. The Makoko forceful evictions drew my attention to writing on this piece for the sake of interventions from young people, concerned authorities and the international community at large. Makoko community according to a resident, it has been in existence for more than 100 years and the people have been living in these shanties for these long years. The demolition which takes violent dimension commenced on Monday 16th July, 2012 after barely 72 hours short quit notice had one shot dead and many wounded. Over 30,000 people including women, children and the elderly have lost their homes. These evictees are further endangered as many of them are now forced to live and sleep in their canoes not only do they lost their homes, their livelihoods were also truncated as 99% of these people are involved in catching and selling fish. According to Social and Economic Rights Centre (SERAC), is currently investigating reports of a drowning of 3 children from a family when their boat capsized as they slept during the night on Wednesday two days after demolition takes place. Picture Credit; Muritala Ayinla of National Mirror Newspaper. MAKOKO COMMUNITY BEFORE DEMOLITION In the case of Makoko, as gathered from the community there have been allegations that due process was not followed; that there was no adequate notice to the affected community; that there was no thought given to the provision of alternative accommodation or resettlement of the affected community. The government explained that the exercise was carried out as said by the commissioner for water front and infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, while addressing the journalists at the state house that “the decision to pull down structures erected on the makoko water front was to avert danger lurking around the residents, owing to the negative impact of the climate change”. He also explained that “the rise in the water level, persistent thunderstorm, occasioned by the climate change and the electrical pilot across the shanties are posing serious threats to the lives of the habitants”. He concluded that “ the reason for our action is to clear the environment and the entire vicinity of the danger that is looming in that area as the state is experiencing rise in water level and heavy rainfall as a result of global warming. “. Yes, governments action was in no doubt, well-intended, having regard to the climatic and environmental danger to which the community had been exposed but the government should have been more compassionate and humanitarian in evacuating the people from their community by providing an alternative settlement for the people the absence of which naturally aggravated the pain and discomfort of the evacuation process. Shelter is both a human needs and a basic right as guaranteed in section 16(2,d) of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, “mandates government to ensure that suitable and adequate shelters ..... are provided for all citizens.” Also guaranteed under the international covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the African Charter on Human and People`s Right both of which have been voluntarily accepted by Nigeria and are binding on public institutions and government in Nigeria. There have been several calls to action on this matter as regards to human rights, the people of the community made a peaceful protest to the state house for governments intervention, journalists have been writing articles and human rights activists have also write and release press statement in this regard. I therefore, call on the international community including the youth to amplify the voices of these indigenous and marginalize people to ensure justice is done. KAZEEM AISHA TITILOLA ACTION PARTNER, NIGERIA.