On Friday, March 7, 2025, bulldozers moved into Lagos’s Otumara neighborhood, a working-class area, demolishing homes and renderi nong hundreds of families homeless.
This action is part of the Nigerian authorities’ ongoing efforts to address land disputes and enhance the mega-city’s image by removing slums.
Residents were caught off guard by the sudden demolitions. Victoria Ajah, a resident, recounted, “They took us by surprise, and I don’t even know where to go now,” noting she was given just 30 minutes to gather her belongings.
The eviction process involved not only excavators but also unidentified individuals claiming to provide security. These individuals reportedly threatened journalists on the scene, including those from AFP.
The Otumara demolitions are the latest in a series targeting informal settlements and slums in Lagos, Nigeria’s sprawling economic hub. The city, home to an estimated 20 million residents, is experiencing increasing competition for limited space between the affluent and the less privileged.
Megan Chapman, co-director of the NGO Justice and Empowerment Initiatives, commented, “A powerful family with links to Lagos State wants to take this land. I don’t know the reason.”
The Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency has not responded to requests for comment.
These evictions occurred despite a 2017 court order suspending development projects in the area due to the lack of relocation solutions for local residents. Residents from Otumara and neighboring communities had previously sued Lagos State in 2016 after facing eviction threats. The court ruling restrained further attempts to forcibly evict residents without proper consultations on relocation plans.
Despite this ruling, recent months have seen numerous demolitions across Lagos without prior notice to residents. Chapman stated, “This destruction is a violation of the law and the verdict handed down by the Lagos High Court.”
Unclear land ownership and alleged corruption have long made housing precarious in Lagos’s poorer areas, where residents often lack the resources or political influence to challenge developers. The city’s continuous growth, coupled with a broader economic crisis and a surge in luxury apartment constructions, has led to skyrocketing rents. Some landlords now prefer wealthier tenants who earn in more stable currencies like the US dollar.
Otumara’s location on Lagos’s mainland makes it particularly desirable due to its proximity to wealthier island neighborhoods. Residents had lived in fear for years, anticipating potential demolitions without any confirmed dates. Ajah expressed her concerns, stating that many residents were either born and raised in Otumara or had moved there years ago, and now face uncertainty about their future.
In September of the previous year, the nearby Oko Baba Sawmill neighborhood was also demolished. Other communities, such as Makoko known for its stilt houses over the Lagos lagoon continue to live under the constant threat of demolition.
