Forced Eviction

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF FORCED EVICTION ON WATERFRONT COMMUNITY DWELLERS. A CASE STUDY OF PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS AND OTODO GBAME WATERFRONT LAGOS.

Thesis Statement

Forced eviction brings about massive destruction of lives, property and livelihood and inadvertently triggers a humanitarian crisis wherever it happens.

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the rise of forced eviction and its effect on the lives of community dwellers. Its Objectives were to identify the level of impacts this had on the inhabitants of communities and to highlight the need to view forced eviction as a major trigger for humatiarian disaster. It used the survey research method and focused on two (2) communities in two different cites in Nigeria- Njemanze community,

It was aimed at Disaster risk reduction and it identified the following vital areas that the Hyogo Framework failed to address.

“Enhanced work to reduce exposure and vulnerability, thus preventing the creation of new disaster risks, and accountability for disaster risk creation are needed at all levels. More dedicated action needs to be focused on tackling underlying disaster risk drivers, such as the consequences of poverty and inequality, climate change and variability, unplanned and rapid urbanization, poor land management and…” pg

Despite this clear statement in the Sendai Framework, the government of Nigeria seems not to be bothered about Disaster risk creation. In recent history, forced eviction has been on the increase leading to the creation of new disaster

“Lagos has grown rapidly over the last few decades to become Africa’s fifth largest economy, it has also seemingly grappled with its push to achieve the status of a 21st century mega-city. One of its key limitations is land space as it’s Nigeria’s smallest state with more 21 million people squeezed into 3,345 square kilometers.”, a good observation made by Quartz Africa, (2017). In the quest to attain the status ‘mega city’, Lagos state has embarked on a slum eradication exercise. According to an analysis carried out by Justice and Empowernment Initiative, 300,000 families across 40 communities on the Lagos lagoon could loose their homes if the demolitions continue. This threat is not imagined. Reuters (2016), substanties it by stating in its report on Otodo Gbame demolition, “The Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode, announced the "demolition of all the shanties" around the creeks and waterways of Lagos State on Oct 9, citing public health and safety concerns.” Regardless of excuses like security and sanitation given for the demolition of communities along the waterfront, its also important to note that private interest in Lagos state play a major role in the demolitions and forced eviction incidencies in Lagos state. Shelby Grossman, an American political scientist conducting research in Lagos accused the Lagos state government of rendering 30,000 Otodo Gbame victims homeless in other to support the private business