A megacity like Lagos needs to control its number of homeless people. Yet, homelessness seems like a challenge facing the Lagos state government and the Lagos residents. Almost 30,000 people have been rendered homeless in Lagos. It is in view of this that the UN nations question the Lagos state government on the displaced inhabitants of the Otodo Gbame community.
ALSO READ: Top 10 Affordable Lagos Homes You Will Like
The United Nations Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, Leilani Farha, on Thursday, demanded an explanation from both the Lagos and Nigerian government over the forced eviction last week of inhabitants of Otodo Gbame, a waterfront slum community on the edge of the Lagos lagoon. The UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing is a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context.
“It has been brought to my attention that the evictions may have involved the extreme use of force and fire by the Nigerian police force and Lagos State Government, leaving individuals and families scrambling in the middle of the night to find safety and shelter,” said Ms. Farha.“The mass displacement and reports of four deaths are deeply disturbing.” The eviction came despite a court order suspending planned demolition of communities along creeks and waterways.
At least seven people died in an ensuing melee after government-owned bulldozers and armed police officers who shot sporadically into the air invaded the community in the early hours of November 9. The police said it was restoring order after a “crisis that resulted from a violent confrontation between the Egun-speaking part and the Yoruba-speaking part” of the community.
ALSO READ: 5 Best Areas to live in Ibadan
But the people of Otodo Gbame denied the claim, saying the purported crisis was part of a grand design to force them out of their lands. In an “urgent communication” from Geneva, Ms. Farha asked the Nigerian government for information on the evictions, the methods used and their compliance with international human rights law. She also questioned whether the community was given adequate notice or alternative accommodation, as required by international law.
“What makes these evictions particularly concerning is that they were carried out in blatant disregard of a court order and have completely ignored international human rights guidelines on forced evictions,” the UN Special Rapporteur said.“International law is clear: there must be consultation with the affected community, all alternative options to eviction must be explored, and a resettlement plan must be in place should the evictions be carried out,” she noted.
CHECK: APARTMENT FOR SALE IN LAGOS
“Under no circumstances should force or fire be used.”The people affected, from the Egun and other ethnic minority populations, with no other options, lived in poor-quality homes along creeks and other waterfronts.“It takes many years to build a home, a community, and a sense of trust with government, but only days to destroy it. It is truly unfortunate that so many people are left with literally nothing but memories of their former lives and questions about their human rights,” Ms. Farha said.
Homeless can be avoided in Lagos. You can now visit www.tolet.com.ng to get the best properties for rent and sale in Nigeria today.
