‘Give Makoko residents due compensation,’ Yemi Adamolekun

Yemi Adamolekun, a Nigerian human rights activist, has urged the Lagos state Government to compensate individuals and residents affected by the demolitions in Makoko.

The executive director, while speaking with Channels Television on Thursday, explained that handing out palliatives alone will not be enough to cater to their basic needs.

Adamolekun argued that the palliatives are temporary solutions to permanent problems, adding that the demolitions are not sudden problems or caused by natural disasters. She stated that the government should have made proper preparation while planning the demolitions rather than expecting the residents to cater for themselves.

“Palliatives are not enough. Residents are due compensation that is enough for them to get somewhere else to live. But the simple request that is being made is that you can’t take land away from people who this is their home. This is for those who fish. This is their means of livelihood, and they’ve lived there for decades, three, four generations, and the way you are moving them is just by destroying their property. And then Governor Sanwo-Olu says he’s going to give palliatives and and grants? I’m sorry, my understanding of a palliative is a temporary measure that you’re using until until a permanent solution is found”

“So destroying the homes in Makoko is not something that suddenly happened. It’s not that fire suddenly happened or a natural disaster m, so you didn’t plan for it and you then have to give palliatives and a stop gap measure until a plan is made,” she said.