Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana (SAN), has faulted the ongoing Makoko demolition in Lagos State, saying that state governments have no control over inland waterways.
Bellnews reports that Falana, during an interview on ARISE Television’s ‘Prime Time’ programme, said going to any waterfront to demolish or displace people is entirely illegal.
According to the senior lawyer, there was no basis for going to the community at midnight to use teargas and confuse them to begin the demolition of their properties.
Falana maintained that People are entitled to the right to housing and dignity, adding that if the government intends to carry out demolitions, it must engage the affected residents and provide alternative accommodation.
He said, “Incidentally, I’ve been involved in the demolition of houses in Lagos for the past 35 years.
“To top it up, the Supreme Court gave a decision two years ago, that state governments have no control over inland waterways in the country. So, going to any waterfront to demolish or displaced people is completely illegal.
“This is the problem. Now we are not opposed to development. What we are seeing is that the Lagos state government, and by the way, section 17 of the Commission provides that all actions of the government shall be humane.
“So you can’t go to a community in the dead of the night, tear gas them, wake them up and confuse them. And when they are running out helter skelter, you begin to demolish their properties. It’s not part of our law.
“Secondly, our people are entitled to right to dignity. Our people are entitled to right to house.
“If the government wants to demolish, no problem, but you must discuss and place them in some other places.”