Special News Edition: On waterfront communities and our responsibility
Hi, <<First Name>>, please join us to take action about Tarkwa Bay
On the morning of Tuesday, the 21st of January 2020, the residents of Tarkwa Bay and Okun Ayo waterfront communities were given two hours to leave their homes. The Nigerian Navy entered both communities and began shooting in the air. What was initially told to a community chief was a military drill, but that ended up as marching orders.
According to a press statement released by the Nigerian Navy, they declared that they were responsible for the chaos, and the command to force over 4,500 people out of their homes came from “above”.
What the statement didn’t mention was any plans for alternative housing or aid for the residents. Residents say they were not given notice to move. Today, days after the forceful eviction of the residents from their homes - homes many of them have held for generations, they have no clue where to go. There’s an assertion that the communities are ‘unauthorised’, but if they are, why were they assigned polling booths during elections and why were their votes counted?
It is a particularly weird situation as the eviction was going on at the same time the High Court in Igbosere was reiterating a judgement and making a statement about the enforcement of the 2017 court judgement that made the forceful eviction of waterfront communities illegal. The courts demanded that the government of Lagos state pay people compensation - monies they have not received till today.
This is the 24th waterfront evacuation in Nigeria. Since 2013 over 60,000 people have been displaced, many with nowhere to go are homeless, and others have moved to other waterfront communities in Lagos, uncertain of the permanency.
If this is how the government treats the less fortunate of society, how long until we are the less fortunate?
We’re calling on you - our readers, to lend your voice and pens and internet to demand answerability from the government. Please take a minute to send the draft email below (you can also create your own).
Please share this email with your friends on social media. Tell everybody you know to demand better from this government.
Draft email
Subject: The Forceful Eviction of Tarkwa Bay Residents.
Hello there,
I would like to use this opportunity to register the ordeal of Tarkwa Bay and Okun Ayo residents in the bewildering forceful eviction carried out by the Nigerian Navy on the 21st of January 2020.
As citizens, we understand that the job of a governor is rather daunting but we also cannot overlook the ripple effects of actions like this one by the state. With nowhere else to, these residents would have to take up different means, to survive this devastating blow to their safety and economy.
To resolve this problem, I would appreciate your timely intervention in reinstating these people back to their homes peacefully or implementing a favourable compensation plan for them.
Thank you.
(Your Name)
Email Addresses:
Governor: bosgov@lagosstate.gov.ng
Deputy governor: ohdg@lagosstate.gov.ng
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development: isalako@lagosstate.gov.ng
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation: bolajidada@lagosstate.gov.ng
Commissioner for Housing: mfatai@lagosstate.gov.ng