Ezekwesili Condemns Makoko Demolitions as “Class Cleansing” and Abuse of Power

The ongoing demolition of structures in the Makoko waterfront area of Lagos has sparked a fierce constitutional debate, with former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, leading a high-profile outcry against the state government. In a strongly worded memorandum addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ezekwesili challenged the legality and morality of the exercise, describing it as a blatant abuse of authority.

The former minister did not mince words, characterizing the state-backed operation as a form of “state-backed oppression” targeted at Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens. She argued that the residents of Makoko, primarily fishermen and informal traders, are being systematically stripped of their dignity under the guise of urban renewal and safety concerns. For Ezekwesili, the operation raises a fundamental question: does Lagos belong to all its residents, or is it a space where economic value has completely superseded human rights?

Ezekwesili’s intervention highlights a troubling pattern in the governance of Nigeria’s commercial capital. She contended that the residents of Makoko are not “illegal settlers” as often portrayed, but are legitimate Nigerian citizens whose socioeconomic status has made them easy targets for displacement. She lamented that poverty is increasingly being treated by the state as a justification for excluding people from their basic rights as citizens.

One of the most serious allegations raised in her memorandum concerns a breach of trust between the government and the community. According to Ezekwesili, community leaders had originally agreed to a plan where only structures within a 30 to 50-metre safety buffer of high-tension power lines would be removed. Residents reportedly cooperated under this specific understanding, believing the state was acting in their best interest regarding safety.

However, Ezekwesili alleged that the government unilaterally altered these conditions mid-operation. She claimed that the demolition boundaries were widened without any prior notice or consultation, catching families off guard and leaving them with no time to salvage their belongings. “A government that alters agreed conditions without notice is not enforcing the law; it is abusing its authority,” she declared, pointing to a breakdown in the social contract.

The fallout of the demolition has been described as a humanitarian emergency. Ezekwesili warned that the displacement of thousands of families has created a vacuum of insecurity, exposing women and children to hunger, disease, and the elements. With children’s education disrupted and livelihoods destroyed in a single afternoon, she argued that the state has incurred a constitutional and moral debt to provide immediate care and resettlement for those it has made homeless.

Beyond the immediate suffering, the former minister touched on the “elite interest” narrative that often follows waterfront demolitions in Lagos. She likened the operation to a forceful land seizure, suggesting that the true motivation behind the clearance is “class cleansing.” By removing the poor from high-value waterfront areas, she argued, the state is essentially clearing a path for luxury real estate developments that serve only the wealthy elite.

Ezekwesili’s memorandum also contained chilling claims regarding the conduct of the operation, alleging that the forceful nature of the exercise resulted in fatalities. While the government maintains that the move is necessary for safety and modern urban planning, Ezekwesili countered that no urban plan is valid if it requires the “dehumanization” of the very people it is supposed to serve.

As the outcry grows, the spotlight remains firmly on Governor Sanwo-Olu to justify the expansion of the demolition zone. Ezekwesili has called for an immediate halt to the exercise and a transparent review of the compensation and resettlement plans for the displaced. She maintained that as long as the state creates homelessness, it must bear the responsibility for the protection of those affected, regardless of their economic standing.

The situation in Makoko has become a litmus test for the administration’s commitment to inclusive governance. Ezekwesili’s critique serves as a reminder that urban renewal should not be a euphemism for the displacement of the poor. As the displaced families of Makoko look for answers, the former minister’s words have amplified the demand for a more compassionate and legally sound approach to the city’s growth.