In Lagos, millions live in sprawling informal settlements commonly referred to as slums. These communities, often tucked away in the shadows of high-rise buildings and affluent neighborhoods, endure conditions marked by inadequate housing, poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and a lack of basic healthcare and education services.
Far from the promises of inclusive development, residents of these slums are being systematically marginalized. Despite their resilience and contributions to the city’s economy through informal labor, trade, and services, they remain excluded from the benefits of urban growth. Instead of policies aimed at addressing their needs, the prevailing approach by city authorities has been one of forced evictions and displacement.
Slum dwellers in Lagos face deep structural inequalities. Their communities are chronically underserved—garbage goes uncollected, schools are under-resourced, and clinics are often nonexistent. These conditions expose residents to preventable health crises, high levels of illiteracy, and cycles of poverty that are difficult to break.
For decades, the government’s response has not been to invest in improving these environments but to demolish them. Over the past ten years, more than 50,000 people have been forcibly evicted from slum areas, often without warning or compensation.
In March 2025 alone, a sweeping demolition in Otumara displaced over 10,000 people. These mass evictions are carried out in the name of “urban regeneration,” but for many, it is a clear case of social cleansing—clearing out the poor to make way for luxury developments.
Forced evictions in Lagos are not isolated incidents. They are part of a recurring pattern in which slum communities are erased to make space for elite urban projects. Otodo-Gbame, Ilubirin, Ayetoro, and Maroko are just a few of the many communities that have been destroyed under the guise of development.
In these cases, homes were razed with little or no notice, residents were assaulted or intimidated, and families were rendered homeless overnight. After eviction, most people simply move to other informal settlements, further entrenching the cycle of displacement and hardship.
Legal safeguards have proven ineffective. In 2017, a Lagos State High Court ruled against forced evictions carried out without community consultation, but these practices persist. The Otumara demolition in 2025 occurred without prior engagement, despite the government’s later attempt to include community leaders in discussions about redevelopment—after the damage was already done.
These actions reveal a disturbing trend: the city’s development priorities are skewed in favor of the wealthy. Informal settlements are torn down to make way for luxury apartments, commercial buildings, and elite estates—projects that cater exclusively to the upper class. Meanwhile, the urban poor are rendered invisible, treated as obstacles to progress rather than people deserving of dignity and inclusion.
This approach not only disregards the rights of slum residents but also deepens social inequality. It severs communities, disrupts livelihoods, and fosters mistrust in government. As a result, slum dwellers are increasingly alienated from the processes that shape the city they live in.
If Lagos is to become a truly inclusive and sustainable city, urban development must prioritize the needs of all its residents—not just the affluent. Based on extensive research on urban vulnerability and the social exclusion of slum dwellers, several key strategies can help reverse the current trajectory:
- Community-Led Regeneration
Development should be designed with the participation of those who will be most affected. Slum dwellers must be involved in the planning and execution of regeneration projects to ensure outcomes that reflect their needs and realities.
- Continuous Community Engagement
Trust can only be rebuilt through transparent dialogue and active involvement of community members. Regular consultations should be institutionalized, not treated as an afterthought.
- Upgrading Without Displacement
Rather than demolish informal settlements, the government should invest in upgrading infrastructure and services within existing communities. This would preserve social networks and minimize disruption to livelihoods.
- Respect for Legal Protections
The Lagos State government must respect court rulings that prohibit forced evictions without due process. Upholding the rule of law is essential for justice and accountability.
- Inclusive Development Frameworks
Urban regeneration must serve all income groups, with affordable housing, education, healthcare, and public services integrated into planning processes.
- Fair and Adequate Compensation
In unavoidable cases of relocation, affected families must receive fair compensation and be resettled in a manner that preserves their dignity and livelihood.
The vision of Lagos as a “fair shared city,” championed by organizations like Fabulous Urban Foundation and Heinrich Böll Foundation, remains within reach. It requires a shift in mindset: from viewing slum dwellers as problems to be solved to recognizing them as integral members of the urban fabric.
Achieving this will not be easy. It demands political will, policy reform, and a deep commitment to social justice. But most of all, it requires that the voices of the marginalized are not only heard but are central to the future of Lagos.
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