Makoko Demolition Tensions Rise After Tear Gas Affects Infants

Tension gripped the Makoko waterfront community in Lagos after two young children and an adult man narrowly escaped death following exposure to tear gas allegedly fired by police during an enforcement operation linked to planned demolitions near power lines.

Residents said the incident unfolded earlier this week as security operatives moved into the area ahead of the government’s plan to remove structures considered too close to high-tension electricity lines. According to eyewitness accounts, tear gas was deployed, leaving residents scrambling for safety in the densely populated waterfront settlement.

Two children — one reportedly less than a year old and the other a toddler — were said to have struggled to breathe after inhaling the gas. Community members described frantic efforts to save the infants as they showed signs of severe distress. In a separate incident, a well-known male resident collapsed on Monday after being overwhelmed by the gas and was rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.

The episode has heightened fear and anger in Makoko, a community that has long lived under the threat of demolition. The Lagos State Government has maintained that it plans to remove shanties located within 100 metres of power lines in the area, citing safety concerns.

Speaking during a meeting with traditional leaders from Makoko, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, confirmed the government’s position. The traditional rulers had visited his office to appeal for leniency, requesting that the setback be reduced to 30 metres to prevent widespread displacement of residents.

Oki explained that while federal regulations recommend a 250-metre setback from power lines, the state government had already made concessions. He said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, mindful of the social impact of displacement, approved a reduced distance of 100 metres, which he described as the maximum the state could allow.

Despite these assurances, residents say the manner of enforcement has left them traumatised, particularly given the presence of infants and vulnerable people during the operation. The tear gas incident has renewed calls from civil society groups and community advocates for a more humane approach to urban planning, one that balances safety concerns with the rights and welfare of residents.

As discussions continue between the government and Makoko leaders, many residents remain anxious about what comes next, fearing both demolition and the potential for further confrontations.