The Lagos State Government has defended the controversial demolition of shanties in the Makoko area of the state.

Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, the State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Adesegun Oniru, said the demolition of shanties in the coastal community was to protect the environment and the lives of affected residents.

Oniru said the persistent thunderstorm and attendant rise in the water level occasioned by climate change could result in needless loss of lives in the area.

He added that Power infrastructure, like poles and power lines around the shanties, also pose serious threats to residents' lives.

"There is an electrical pilot that goes across the shanties on the water, and we don’t want disasters to happen around that area, that was why we acted fast and took the action," he said.

“The reason for our action is to clear the environment and the entire vicinity of the danger that is looming in that area."

Mixed reactions have trailed the exercise, as the residents were only given 72-hour evacuation notice and not provided with alternative places of abode.

In his reaction, Oniru said there was no plan by the government to resettle the displaced persons, as they had illegally occupied the land in the first place.

However, residents and human rights groups have continued to condemn the state government's action.

A Makoko community leader, John Maotin, who described the demolition exercise as "callous", considering the short notice issued to them, said thousands of people had already been rendered homeless.

He said the fishing community ought to be provided with alternative places to live and work.

"Our occupation is fishing and there is no other place we can go to do our work," he said, pleading that the state government should reconsider its stance.

“We live and work on the water, and also contribute to the development of the state and the country."

Oniru said the persistent thunderstorm and attendant rise in the water level occasioned by climate change could result in needless loss of lives in the area.

He added that Power infrastructure, like poles and power lines around the shanties, also pose serious threats to residents' lives. "There is an electrical pilot that goes across the shanties on the water, and we don’t want disasters to happen around that area, that was why we acted fast and took the action," he said. “The reason for our action is to clear the environment and the entire vicinity of the danger that is looming in that area."

afam4eva: This excuses don't make sense because these people have been living there for decades. Though i understand that there was a need to demolish those houses. I just hope they were settled.

KINGwax: ^^
it's not an excuse, it's a reason. And a good reason. So shut your trap if u have nothin to say.

ebamma: wetin come concern us,abi we get fishermen or slum dwellers for nairaland?

Billyonaire: Government should stop using secondary reasons to defend the truth. Tell them the primary reason is we do not want shanties in the City of Excellence. They should go back to Togo, where they came from. Full Stop.

Elueme: These residents are human beings and should be treated with humane.. I don't have problem with demolishing the shanties but the way and manner you do such matters.. It is now they know the residents are living there illegally, what defines legality of place of abode?these people have been living there for ages, living a peasant life with fish farming why just oppressed them just because you have an ulterior motive with the coastland? This is becoming a common trend with ACN govt Edo inclusive.. PDP led govt will never attempt such and if they do this so called democrats will blow the roof off it... I think they should have a rethink on this

Ellashow: They may b Nigerians but illegally occupy dat place, they should go back 2 where they comes from aftall they didn't fall from heaven. No settlement should b given because it's our tax payers' money since they didn't acquire dat place from d government initially...they should all go back 2 Badagry or Ilaje where they initially comes from. I support d govt 100%

Ellashow: They may b Nigerians but illegally occupy dat place, they should go back 2 where they comes from aftall they didn't fall from heaven. No settlement should b given because it's our tax payers' money since they didn't acquire dat place from d government initially...they should all go back 2 Badagry or Ilaje where they initially comes from. I support d govt 100%

Elueme: These residents are human beings and should be treated with humane.. I don't have problem with demolishing the shanties but the way and manner you do such matters.. It is now they know the residents are living there illegally, what defines legality of place of abode?these people have been living there for ages, living a peasant life with fish farming why just oppressed them just because you have an ulterior motive with the coastland? This is becoming a common trend with ACN govt Edo inclusive.. PDP led govt will never attempt such and if they do this so called democrats will blow the roof off it... I think they should have a rethink on this