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By Maduka Nweke
In order to ameliorate the hardship visiting the people of the area, residents of Makoko, a fishing community located across the Third Mainland Bridge on the coast of mainland Lagos in Yaba Local Government Area, have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu not to displace them from their place of abode.
Leaders of the community made this known during an interactive session with the media recently in Lagos. They said the displacement would deprive them of their livelihood and lifestyle.
At the “Media Advocacy and Community Conversation with Makoko People” held at the instance of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), a civil society organisation, the Makoko representatives spoke against the backdrop of on-going reclamation of parts the lagoon and waterfronts in the community, which they feel could ultimately lead to their displacement.
The Makoko people who are predominantly fishermen have lived peacefully for more than a century, using the proceeds from fishing to cater for their families and provide shelters, some on stilts and others on land. They claim that their survival is tied to the dynamics of their immediate environment.
“We are appealing to the Lagos State Government to stop their plans to reclaim the place so that our community and our business will continue to thrive, chiefly because of Makoko’s importance as a source of seafood to Lagosians and neighbouring communities,” said one of the leaders.
Leader of the Makoko delegation, Apostle Akintimehin Adewale, said the hardship that government’s frequent invasions of their communities have caused cannot be captured in words.
“I am going to be 82 years old soon. I have seen a whole lot. And the government has not been humane to us. Something must give this time,” he said.
Samuel Adebanwo, a 50-year-old man, who claimed to live at Ebute-Meta, Ori-Oke flank of Makoko, said: “We have not been met or invited to discussion with the government. What we have been seeing in recent times is the continuous dredging of the lagoon, which has now raised the sea level and led to surge, flooding our homes and blocking the drainages.”
A fisherman by classification, Adebanwo said the ongoing dredging has affected their economic lives, as it is now difficult to make good catches.
“It is very simple, if there is dredging activities going on close to a waterfront community, the ripple effects are numerous for the inhabitants. One of them is the loss of economic livelihood because we would not be able to catch fish anymore. And that is a big concern for us,” Adebanwo said.
In her statement, “Titilayo Akintimehin, a 59-year-old woman, said she was born at Makoko, and it was very fascinating “witnessing the construction of the 3rd Mainland Bridge “between Oko Brick to Odo-Ibule.”
A trader, she said since the reclamation started, sales have been difficult. “As a trader, I rely on patronage from our people. But the frequent displacement of our people has ruined my business. We need help. It is sad that it is only during the election that the government will remember us because of our voting population. Because we are very many and we do vote for them very well, ” she said.
