Understanding the neglect in Nigeria’s floating slum Makoko

Change
People
Posted 28 December, 2022

Credit: Wikimedia

Makoko, the world’s largest floating slum, is located on the Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria. It has a population of over 200,000 people living in precarious conditions, with limited access to basic amenities such as education, clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and electricity.

Makoko slum has been a fishing village for decades and has attracted many from neighboring countries such as Benin.

The residents live in houses built on stilts on the water and depend on boats to move around. Over the years, the community has grown and become more diverse.

Recently, Makoko has received attention from the media and various non-governmental organizations due to poor living conditions. The NGOs efforts to develop the community has remained a struggle as the younger population grows to overwhelming levels.

Nigeria’s government has largely ignored the needs of the residents, leaving them to live in substandard conditions.

One of the main reasons for neglect is a lack of political representation for the community within government. Villagers have been plagued by poverty and unemployment, with many struggling to make ends meet. Makoko has most living in shacks and houses built on stilts on the water.

As such, it is not recognized by the government as a formal community and its residents are not entitled to the same services and support as those living in established towns and cities.

Makoko suffers from a lack of investment in infrastructure and services. The slum is in a flood-prone area, making it difficult to provide basic services such as electricity, water, and sanitation.

The Nigerian government has also failed to invest in the development of schools and other educational facilities, leaving many children and young people with no access to education.

Despite the efforts by some NGOs to develop learning centres, water pollution has increasingly limited the development efforts.

Restricted access to education has forced students to drop out or not to attend at all, leading to high levels of illiteracy and a lack of opportunities.

Government neglect of the slum have been dire. The lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation has led to high rates of disease and illness, with many residents suffering from waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

This has greatly affected children who have no access to quality healthcare. The water in the lagoon is polluted with industrial and household waste, with no proper waste management available.

The living conditions in Makoko have also put Gen Z at risk of physical danger. The shacks and houses in the floating slum are often overcrowded and poorly constructed, making them vulnerable to collapse during storms or floods caused by the constant change in weather patterns.

The situation in Makoko slum is a clear example of the consequences of inequality and poverty. The young have been denied the basic rights and opportunities that are essential for their development and prospects.

It is important that the government and other stakeholders take action to address the issues facing the area and ensure access to education, health care, and other basic services. The residents should be given the same rights and opportunities as those living in formal settlements.

The Nigerian government has ignored the residents for years, leaving them to live in poor conditions. Despite its history of resilience and survival, the future of Makoko remains uncertain, as the community continues to struggle.

Nevertheless, we hope the community gets the support it needs to combat the situation at hand.

Derrick Wachaya

Writer Nairobi, Kenya

I’m Derrick (He/Him), a Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from the Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya. Currently I write about trending topics and major issues affecting Africa for Thred, specifically concerning SDGs. View my Twitter here if you’d like to send me feedback.

More from thred.

A look at the Haitian mass deportation crisis

Credit: Richard Pierrin AFP

People

A look at the Haitian mass deportation crisis

In recent months, the Dominican Republic has ramped up its deportation campaign targeting Haitian immigrants, with plans to expel 10,000 each week. Why? As Haiti remains engulfed in widespread gang violence and political instability, returning to their home country could lead to dire consequences, especially for vulnerable groups such as women and children. Despite international outcry, the Dominican government is pressing ahead with its policy, further intensifying an already critical humanitarian...

By Derrick Wachaya Nairobi, Kenya

Investing in women’s health could save the UK economy £11bn each year

Credit: Thred

People

Investing in women’s health could save the UK economy £11bn each year

A new report conducted in the UK estimates that the national government loses more than £10 billion annually due to women missing work because of unresolved health issues. It’s an unfortunate truth that women’s health has been overlooked for centuries, leaving major gaps in our medical understanding about the different illnesses and diseases that affect us. In most parts of the world, this lax attitude towards women’s health continues today. Women’s...

By Jessica Byrne London, UK

Climate change will make this species more vulnerable to ship collisions

Credit: Unsplash

People

Climate change will make this species more vulnerable to ship collisions

A new study suggests that endangered whale sharks will soon abandon their normal habitats due to rapidly warming oceans. This change will place them on directly in line with major shipping routes. The climate crisis is having a profound impact on our planet and all living beings on it, including marine animals. As global ocean temperatures rise, biologists and marine scientists are noticing a series of changes taking place. Coral reefs...

By Jessica Byrne London, UK

Britain shuts its last power plant and opts for eco-friendly fuel

Credit: Thred

Planet

Britain shuts its last power plant and opts for eco-friendly fuel

The last coal power plant in Britain was closed last week, marking the end of over 140 years of coal-fired electricity and the beginning of more eco-friendly fuel use in the country. Ratcliffe-on-soar, in central England, was home to the last coal power station in the UK. After more than half a century of turning coal, it finished its final shift last Monday at midnight. The UK government has hailed...