Makoko

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Makoko
Informal Settlement
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A landscape photo of Makoko, 2017.
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Makoko
Coordinates: 6°29′44″N3°23′39″E / 6.49556°N 3.39417°E / 6.49556; 3.39417
Country Nigeria
State Lagos State
Slum Lagos
LGA Lagos Mainland
Settled19th century
Population
 (2020) [1]
 • Total
85,000 – 1,000,000
Time zone UTC+1

Makoko is an informal settlement across the 3rd Mainland Bridge located on the coast of mainland Lagos, Nigeria. A third of the community is built on stilts along the lagoon and the rest is on the land. The waterfront part of the community is largely harboured by the Egun people who migrated from Badagary and Republic of Benin and whose main occupation is fishing.

Contents

Makoko comprises six individual villages, of which four are floating communities (Adogbo, Migbewhe, Oko Agbon and Yanshiwhe) and two are on land (Apollo and Sogunro). The state government of Lagos refers to the area as Makoko-Iwaya Waterfront. [2]

Makoko is sometimes referred to as the "Venice of Africa" owing to its waterways. [3] Its population is considered to be 85,840; however, the area was not officially counted as part of the 2007 census and the population has been estimated to be much higher – as high as over a million in 2020. [1] [4] In July 2012, the Lagos State government ordered that some of the stilts beyond the power lines be brought down without proper notice. This led to the destruction of several stilts on the Iwaya/Makoko waterfront and many families were rendered homeless. [5]

History

Established in the 18th to 19th century, much of Makoko rests in structures constructed on stilts above Lagos Lagoon. [1] [6] Makoko is a neighbouring community to Iwaya on the waterfront and Oko Baba. [7]

The name Makoko is literally translated from Yoruba to be "Pick Akoko". In Yoruba tradition, "Akoko" leaves are used to aid fertility and also used during Chieftaincy coronation, present day Makoko had the leaf growing in abundance.

Demolition

While the commune often gets foreign media and travel influencer attention, successive Lagos State governments have considered it an eyesore and effected several rounds of demolitions including in 2005, 2012 and January 2026 citing safety violations. [8]

In July 2012, Lagos State government under the governorship of Babatunde Fashola ordered that the stilts on the Iwaya/Makoko waterfront be demolished and dozens of stilts were demolished within 72 hours of notice to the residents. Nearly 3,000 people lost their homes to the demolition exercise. [5] [9] [10] [2] Two months after the partial demolition, a Serac housing affiliate known as the Urban Spaces Innovation developed a regeneration plan for Makoko that would bring the community together with academics, non-profits, and international consultants. The plan was submitted to the Lagos State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning in January 2014. [2]

Reactions

Residents as well as Environment, Justice and Human Rights groups have described the government actions as "violent and unlawful," and often without notice and/or disregarding judicial restraining orders. They also condemn the lack of resettlement or support for the vulnerable displaced population that inhabit these communities.

Similar demolitions have occurred in other waterfront areas, such as Oworonshoki on the opposite side of the lagoon from Makoko, as well as in Maroko. After displacing thousands, the cleared areas are promptly sand filled with the reclaimed land sold to property developers who then build expensive high-end waterfront estates for the wealthy elite. [11] [12] [13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 This Day (1 May 2009). "Makoko Residents And Their Unwanted Guest". Africa News.
  2. 1 2 3 Ogunlesi, Tolu; Esiebo, Andrew (23 February 2016). "Inside Makoko: danger and ingenuity in the world's biggest floating slum". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. ↑ Soni Methu (24 December 2014). "Postcards from home: documenting Nigeria's floating community". CNN. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Adeshokan, Oluwatosin (26 February 2020). "How Makoko, Nigeria's floating slum went digital". CNN. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Destroying Makoko". The Economist . 18 August 2012.
  6. ↑ Cohen, Roger (20 July 1998). "Nigerian Slum's Filth Is a World Away From Capital's Glitter". The New York Times .
  7. ↑ UN Integrated Regional Information Networks (5 September 2006). "Lagos, the mega-city of slums". Africa News. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  8. ↑ Bakare, Tonye. "Demolitions cast adrift residents of Africa's biggest floating slum". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  9. ↑ "Lagos Makoko slums knocked down in Nigeria". BBC. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Nigeria: Day After Makoko and Abonema – Frustration of a Homeless Nation". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Makoko demolitions leave thousands homeless as Lagos clears waterfront settlement". Africanews. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  12. ↑ Daniel, Eniola (16 January 2026). "Makoko residents protest demolitions at Lagos Assembly". guardian.ng. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  13. ↑ Olugbode, Michael. "Rights Groups Condemn Demolition of Makoko, Call for Immediate Halt". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
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