The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued a landmark ruling stopping the Lagos State government, its agencies, and the Nigeria Police Force from carrying out any further demolitions or evictions in the waterfront communities of Makoko, Oko-Agbon, Sogunro, and Iwaya.
In Suit No. FHC/L/CS/70/2025, Honourable Justice F.N. Ogazi granted an injunction to protect the residents from what the court described as “continuous threat and fear of imminent demolition.” The court ordered the government and security agencies to immediately halt all threats or actions aimed at displacing these communities.
The judgment comes after years of tension between the indigenous Gunuvi (Egun) fishing communities and the Lagos State government, which had been accused of forcefully acquiring the waterfront land for private luxury developments without compensation or plans for resettlement.
Barrister Femi F. Dodo, legal counsel for the community, revealed that the disputed land was allocated to FBT Coral Limited for upscale apartment construction, jeopardizing the livelihood and cultural heritage of the residents.
In addition to the injunction, the court awarded ₦3.5 billion in damages against the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force. This award compensates for previous unlawful demolitions, persistent threats, and the unlawful killing of a community leader.
The ruling also restrains the police from harassing local fishermen as they continue their traditional fishing activities on the Lagos Lagoon.
Caleb Dosugan, Coordinator of Freedom in Makoko Oko-Agbon Sogunro and Iwaya Waterfront (FREMOSI), described the judgment as a significant victory for the communities long threatened by demolition.
Co-counsel Ayodele Ademiluyi emphasized that the government’s actions—demolitions without compensation or resettlement—have severely impacted the mostly marginalized Gunuvi people. He urged the state government to stop land reclamation and dredging activities that threaten the cultural heritage of the waterfront communities.
Barrister Dodo added that residents have expressed renewed hope to rebuild and modernize their homes, now that the court has provided protection against forced evictions. He called for sincere dialogue involving the community, beyond just traditional leaders, to find lasting solutions that respect the rights and history of the indigenous people.
The legal team condemned indiscriminate demolitions and urged the Lagos State Government to halt developments that displace vulnerable communities in favor of private interests.
Makoko, a historically significant settlement and one of the last remaining waterfront communities in Lagos’ Eastern and Central Senatorial districts, has faced ongoing marginalization despite the Gunuvi’s status as original settlers and traditional fishermen of Lagos State.
