Inside Makoko: The Urban Crisis Lagos Has Yet to Solve

As Assembly weighs displacement, experts insist: “Fix the system, not just the settlement” ~ By Emmanuel Daniji || A TwoCents Investigates<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/3gfQ7X7fC_KRKwRtOI6uEseDm3U6k_EDUJGMoR4hKj4jSmJZN4bijc88n8Un-88PvTLjOCuAYFZa4vCUsZC7UeIQjryZpU_TfL-c_H5tXxHW7yM1kb4_BkvNReVbTzBF1A0O9xlw-Bavm4-HNvaOn4b_4l7SjEI17InB29evU8ZQ6KCglwCaUrKuI1Z1ZfgS.jpeg"/>Fresh deliberations within the Lagos State House of Assembly over the proposed relocation of Makoko residents have once again brought Nigeria’s most prominent waterfront settlement into focus.Citing concerns over flooding, sanitation, and structural safety, policymakers argue that relocation may be necessary.But urban planners, development organisations, and community advocates say the issue is far more complex—and warn that displacement without economic and structural planning could deepen, rather than solve, urban poverty.Makoko’s relationship with government intervention has followed a familiar trajectory:announcement, resistance, pause—and return.Observers describe this as a repeating policy cycle, where relocation is proposed but rarely implemented successfully.According to the Justice & Empowerment Initiatives (JEI), forced evictions in informal communities often fail when they are not supported by comprehensive resettlement frameworks.The organisation’s long-standing work in Lagos communities suggests that residents are more receptive to upgrading initiatives than outright displacement, particularly when livelihoods are at stake.<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/Tyx_K9RdAtF4YRrTl_-0PZKhSgj3ijbDYvTlmY2IybStCHdWjmzKT3rZaYMhD7zJKsO8YEa_HMW0Mbs-znjHCHxtoOriJ-JDaKIqvVjEdoobATszvi2LwvF2O8EbKOH4TLI371GEfDCANeWeqzZ-5FtjJ3VTP28ZztFXmbMR5rixspS4yMnoT7z74k4ogU5j.jpeg"/> DATA PROFILE: MAKOKOPopulation: 100,000 – 300,000Location: Lagos Lagoon waterfrontHousing: Predominantly stilt structuresEconomy: Fishing, water transport, petty tradeKey Risks: Flooding, fire outbreaks, sanitation gapsLegal Status: Informal / unrecognised Urban development experts say Makoko cannot be understood in isolation from Lagos’ wider housing crisis.With millions of residents unable to access affordable housing, informal settlements have become an alternative for low-income earners.The UN-Habitat notes that in rapidly growing cities, informal settlements are often driven by systemic housing shortages and inequality, rather than poor planning alone.In effect, Makoko is not an anomaly—it is a reflection of structural gaps.<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/cgK2MvGYFROGN5z2Bpv6uAc0VWF3heVeq0JNYQRTxW1GD-_DwZGxWZCXOqEMcK-mfOVEQMjYf6fwpuPtx4LhQcQGTLDFZsOD8LVTx_tp37Lrgu4yG7D3dZMEIOl2trUokjIrTQqUKo1hEVThZdFHQH7fg16WFq0J27U6xyHJY07PC7nFVgPVn20TXtRSuXwU.jpeg"/> <blockquote>“Informal settlements are symptoms of housing systems that are not keeping up with urban growth.” — Policy position aligned with UN-Habitat</blockquote> For thousands of residents, Makoko is not just a place to live—it is where income is earned.Fishing networks, canoe transport, and informal markets form a tightly connected economic system built around the lagoon.Development analysts warn that relocation plans that do not account for this system risk failure.The World Bank has repeatedly stressed that proximity to livelihood is critical to successful resettlement outcomes.<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/0XpePoMBx4BPIuXfCbsmzUJvMUYe9xFiz8MeLnJl83igUKOZ35zu8lAO7VQO9RI4tkxpPNaU55mOdJz9yeeUh4moOR8hTcmMalQJ5I1V1QeQzzDqzqhhhNCfLnu084n3yaxAMnaCoqQO7vcoPkh9osphbMki049xU_ibjST7B78IsWjf0Zu23jCYAYzsr3PI.jpeg"/>Uadamen Ilevbaoje, a civic tech innovator and policy analyst familiar with Lagos’ urban development dynamics told Emmanuel Daniji:“You cannot separate people from their economic environment and expect stability. If jobs don’t move with them, people move back—or struggle.”Community engagement reports by Slum Dwellers International show that residents are not opposed to development—but prioritise:<ul><li>improved living conditions</li><li>access to services</li><li>security of tenure</li></ul>rather than relocation.This aligns with global findings that community-led upgrading often delivers more sustainable outcomes than forced displacement.Urban planning experts within the University of Lagos advocate for in-situ upgrading, a model that improves existing settlements without displacing residents.British architect and theorist, John F.C. Turner once noted:“Upgrading allows government to intervene without destroying the social and economic systems that already exist.”This approach has been applied in multiple countries, often with measurable improvements in health, safety, and economic stability.Makoko faces genuine environmental threats, including flooding and fire outbreaks.However, experts argue these risks can be mitigated through design rather than displacement.The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research has emphasised the importance of adaptive coastal strategies, including water-resilient housing and infrastructure.Globally, such approaches include:<ul><li>floating structures</li><li>elevated housing systems</li><li>water-based sanitation solutions</li></ul>Countries facing similar challenges have adopted upgrading strategies:<ul><li>Indonesia: Kampung Improvement Programme</li><li>Brazil: Favela urbanisation initiatives</li><li>Kenya: Community-led slum upgrading</li></ul>These models prioritise integration, not removal.Makoko’s informal status remains a major barrier to structured intervention.Without official recognition, planning, regulation, and infrastructure investment remain limited.<img src="/media/inline_insight_image/ujNJhBVcVzr8OaClQhHF8YZg3E2_Zz70kac_rCMuVNcSWhzhCB5z17TIR9HKj8o8p4oGrw018Qo-eiZui5_zJoK2IHpX7CMfNoB2eoWdGEUHGPEFsBEr_hs8o6JnYK8yMU3ys8QhYXMIAk0FG-i_Tdhf2EDDYSsVAaXaTYQWujcskA0DDSAuWbIeFoGo5dwC.jpeg"/>International Development Expert, Olufunke Baruwa, suggest that designating Makoko as a special waterfront settlement zone could provide a pathway for controlled development. <blockquote>“Urban upgrading is not just social policy—it is long-term economic planning.” — Perspective reflected in World Bank frameworks</blockquote> Lagos continues to invest in large-scale infrastructure and new city developments, projecting a vision of a modern megacity.Yet, informal settlements like Makoko remain outside formal planning frameworks.Olufunke Baruwa said that this contrast underscores a key challenge: how to build an inclusive city while managing rapid urban growth. A growing body of research points to a multi-layered solution:1. In-Place UpgradingImproving housing, sanitation, and safety within the community2. Legal RecognitionFormalising Makoko as a regulated waterfront settlement3. Infrastructure AdaptationDeploying water-based services and renewable energy systems4. Livelihood ProtectionSupporting existing economic activities and creating new opportunities<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/keU0-BtQILnXIln4QNd3B-AMmKTXN6jvNMBE9eo1AhVJfq9a_0qlZ7dEYTTz41gMVNCGsAx4duwu1eabN88PLLRDcMlz8mK6h3cEU-EnMchnQPWUeMbLetQDdiSVAn94mKssiYp__8FRlrZKS_lobuOkJ6p_MS2DOZcU16rrJjw0bG8fohmBdW6pQ49Pdtdm.jpeg"/>As policymakers revisit the future of Makoko, experts caution against relying solely on relocation.The underlying drivers—housing shortages, economic inequality, and rapid urbanisation—remain unresolved.Until these are addressed, similar settlements will continue to emerge.Makoko, they argue, is not just a planning challenge.It is a test of how Lagos chooses to build its future.

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