Why you should care about Otodo-Gbame

Roli Afinotan
Aug 24, 2017 · 2 min read

Beyond the headlines, there are a million stories untold about the people of Otodo-Gbame. Here are a few of them.

  1. Otodo-Gbame used to be an informal intimate fishing community in Lekki area of Lagos State until March 10th, 2017, when the Lagos State Government razed down the community without prior notice.
  2. Two people were reportedly killed in a police shoot out, in a bid to chase resisting residents.
  3. Vanguard reported about 4,698 people lost their homes and property in the demolition
  4. People lost their source of livelihood as many of the residents were predominantly fishermen and tradeswomen, who sold the catch.
  5. The Lagos State Government had previously denied the allegation, claiming the community was destroyed by fire and they were just clearing up as it posed sanitary and environmental risk. Apparently, this did not hold in court.
  6. On the 22nd of June, the Lagos High Court restrained further demolitions as the judge ruled against the Lagos State Government, describing its actions as unconstitutional as it infringes on the rights of the people without resettlement plan in place, violating Section 34 of the 1999 CFRN
  7. The Lagos State Government visited the displaced people in the spirit of commiseration. Will his visit alleviate their current situation? Will the future forget to remember the people of Otodo-Gbame?
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Writer, poet, all round art lover, culturist.

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