Amnesty International Nigeria, a prominent non-governmental human rights organization, has issued a fervent plea to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in Lagos State, urging an immediate cessation of the “wanton forced evictions and years of attacks on poor communities in the state.”
The organisation statement, posted on its official channels, highlights the punitive measures imposed on impoverished communities as a consequence of the state’s urban planning deficiencies.
The humanitarian body expressed profound concern over the harrowing consequences of forced evictions, emphasizing the catastrophic toll exacted on individuals and families.
“Lagos state government must halt wanton forced evictions and end years of attacks on poor communities — who are being punished for the state’s urban planning failures,” Amnesty International Nigeria asserted, underscoring the profound ramifications that forced evictions precipitate, including loss of livelihoods, possessions, and tragically, loss of life.
The urgency of Amnesty’s appeal resonates amidst the ongoing demolition campaigns orchestrated by the state government, targeting what it deems as ‘shanties’ in unauthorized locations across Lagos.
Over recent years, the state has recurrently made headlines for the forceful dismantlement of low-income settlements, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of residents annually.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, regularly provides updates on the government’s utilization of bulldozers and law enforcement personnel to raze shops and residential structures in various communities, citing environmental infractions as justification.
However, accounts from affected individuals paint a distressing picture of sudden and unannounced demolitions, leaving residents ill-prepared and powerless as their homes and possessions are obliterated before their eyes.
The outcry from Amnesty International underscores the imperative for immediate action to safeguard the rights and well-being of marginalized communities in Lagos.
With the specter of forced evictions looming large over vulnerable populations, the call for governmental accountability and adherence to human rights principles reverberates louder than ever.