Children deaths trail Lagos Government demolition of Makoko

What began as a demolition exercise has turned into a heartbreaking tragedy, leaving families and school communities in mourning. At least five students have lost their lives after being exposed to tear gas and other dangers linked to the Makoko demolitions, according to eyewitness accounts.

Makoko, one of Lagos’ oldest and most vibrant waterfront communities is once again at the center of a heated debate about urban growth, safety and the human cost of development. Over the past few weeks, homes have been torn down, families displaced and schools closed, leaving residents scrambling for shelter and security.

Authorities argue that the demolitions are necessary to protect people from the dangers posed by high-voltage power lines that run across parts of the settlement. For thousands of residents, particularly children, the demolitions have disrupted daily life, education and livelihoods, raising questions about how urban planning and climate adaptation measures are implemented in vulnerable communities.

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“I have lived in Makoko my entire life,” says 48-year-old resident and fisherman Emmanuel. “This is where my children were born, where they go to school, where we work. Now everything is being taken from us. The government says they are protecting us from the power lines, but you can see people over there without roofs over their heads, children crying and schools being destroyed. How is this protection if our lives are made harder every day?”

The recent demolitions began just days before Christmas 2025, catching residents by surprise. Initially, the government demanded a 30-metre buffer zone from the high-voltage power lines, but this distance was later extended to 100 metres and then to 200 metres. According to the residents, their homes, churches, businesses and schools were demolished with little warning, leaving families to fend for themselves.

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For children, the impact has been immediate and devastating. Their school has been destroyed, school children displaced, teachers homeless and educational routines interrupted. “My children loved school,” says 35-year-old mother Blessing. “They had friends there, they learned skills and they were safe. Now, they spend their days on the water, sometimes helping me sell. They no longer go to school because we don’t have a home anymore and our worry now is about where to go next.”  

Children and Schools Disrupted

Education has become one of the biggest concerns in Makoko. Schools in the community provide more than lessons. They provide meals, safe spaces to play and a place where children can learn, grow and interact with others. With classrooms destroyed due to the recent demolitions, many children are now scattered and being forced to work to support their families.

Juliet from the Makoko Children Development Foundation, which supports orphans and underprivileged children, described the impact firsthand. “One of our schools has been destroyed, leaving the children in our care without a safe place to learn,” she said. While showing us around the community, she shouted when she saw a former student paddling her canoe to sell goods in the lagoon, trying to survive after her family home was demolished.

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The demolitions have also had tragic consequences. “Five of our students have already been lost due to tear gas and other dangers during the demolitions,” Juliet Fosupe said. “My boss has gone to the cemetery for the burial of one of the students we lost on Friday.”

“For the remaining school building, we don’t even know if it will be demolished next. The classrooms are empty, our students are scattered and homeless. Even if the building stays, they cannot focus on learning because they have no home. Most of our learning materials have been taken away. Inside, you will even see some elderly people who have lost their homes. They cannot walk or work. Everyone is struggling to survive,” said Juliet.

Several organisations have been visiting to understand the scale of the challenges residents are facing. The De Freedom Initiative Charitable Foundation was among those met during our visit.

The foundation’s founder, Emmanuel Olaitan, explained their objectives. “We came to understand the difficulties these families are experiencing and to see how our programs can assist,” he said. “We are looking at providing temporary learning spaces, food support and educational resources to ensure that children can continue their education despite the demolitions.”

Residents say that while these efforts are welcome, long-term solutions are urgently needed. “The foundation’s help is a lifeline for now,” Juliet said. “But children need permanent schools, safe learning spaces and secure homes. Otherwise, all this effort is just temporary relief.”

The story of Makoko

Makoko is more than just a collection of homes over water. It is a community with a long history of resilience stretching back to the 19th century. Four of its six villages are built on stilts above the lagoon while the remaining two are on land. Residents have developed ingenious ways to adapt to the environmental challenges of living in a flood-prone area.

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Fishing, small-scale trade and local craftsmanship provide livelihoods for many, and community schools and floating markets have become central to daily life. In 2012, a similar demolition initiative displaced about 3,000 residents within just three days, setting a precedent for how urban redevelopment is handled in the area.

For Emmanuel, the repeated cycle of demolition and rebuilding is exhausting. “We have learned to live with the water, to build homes that withstand floods. We have schools, markets and traditions that help us survive. Each time they come to remove us, we lose more than houses. We lose our community, our children’s learning, our sense of safety. It feels like no one sees us as human, only as obstacles in the way of development.”

While the government maintains that the buffer zones are necessary for safety, many residents are skeptical of the motives behind the demolitions. Land reclamation and construction of luxury waterfront properties nearby have fueled fears that commercial interests rather than public safety drive the actions. “They keep saying it’s for our safety,” said Blessing, a local trader who sells goods from her boat. “But it feels like they just want our land for themselves.”

Safety vs Human Needs

According to a previous report by Lagos Voice, the Lagos State Government says the demolitions are meant “to protect lives, ensure environmental safety and promote sustainable urban development,” particularly for structures built under high‑tension power lines and along critical waterways, framing the actions as preventive rather than punitive.

“First they said 30 metres, then 100, now 200. Every time we think it’s over, more homes are destroyed,” said Isaac, a long-time resident. “It’s hard to believe this is really about safety. It feels like they just want our land.”

Parents are worried not just about houses but about the day-to-day safety of their families. “We don’t just need to be away from the power lines,” said Ayinde.
Teachers and youth leaders are seeing the effects first-hand. “I had to tear down my own school before the bulldozers got it,” said Israel, another school owner.

“The children are left without classrooms. Safety should protect them, but right now it is hurting them.”

Some residents say the demolitions are forcing people into even riskier situations. Families are sleeping on boats, children are out of school and daily survival has become a struggle. “Being pushed from our homes doesn’t make us safer,” said Juliet from the Makoko Children Development Foundation. “It only makes us more vulnerable.”

Housing inequality and economic impact

Many people move to Lagos hoping for better opportunities, jobs, education and a chance to build a stable future. For decades, families like those in Makoko have settled along the waterfront, relying on fishing, small trading and crafts to survive. But for most, housing remains a major challenge.

“Where are we supposed to go?” asked 52-year-old resident Mrs. Funke. “We have lived here for decades. We catch fish, sell them and live by the lagoon. Now everything is being destroyed and we cannot afford to move to a place. It feels like the city belongs to the rich and we are being pushed out.”

For many families in Makoko, fishing, small-scale trading and local businesses are their main sources of income. When homes and marketplaces are demolished, people lose not just shelter but also the means to earn a living.

Temporary shelters, boats or overcrowded neighbors’ homes may provide a roof over their heads, but they are unsafe and do not allow families to continue their work. “Lagos is where we come to work and try to make a living,” says Mrs. Maria, a 52-year-old resident. “But rents are high and buying a house is impossible for ordinary people like us. That’s why so many of us live in places like Makoko. At least we have a home.”

Residents argue that urban planning should consider the needs of everyone, not just investors. Safe housing, protection of livelihoods and affordable relocation options must be part of any plan to improve the city. Otherwise, the gap between the rich and the poor will only grow wider.