The Ajegunle Peoples Movement (APM) has strongly condemned the Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over what it described as persistent anti-people and anti–working-class policies, following fresh demolitions in the Makoko waterfront community.

In a statement signed by its Secretary, Comrade Babatunde Yusuf, the group denounced the latest demolitions, noting that similar actions have recently occurred in Oworoshoki, Ajegunle, and other low-income communities across Lagos.

According to APM, the demolitions form part of a deliberate strategy by the state government to make housing increasingly unaffordable for ordinary Lagos residents, effectively turning shelter into a scarce and inaccessible necessity.

“The most recent demolition in Makoko, following similar acts in Oworoshoki, Ajegunle and other communities, represents a calculated attempt to make housing unaffordable and inaccessible for the working class,” the statement said.

The movement accused the Lagos State Government of carrying out systematic, state-sponsored violence against poor communities, alleging the destruction of homes and critical community infrastructure such as schools and healthcare facilities—many of which, it said, were built through years of collective effort by residents.

APM described the situation as a “cruel irony,” recalling that the government initially proposed a 30-metre safety buffer from high-tension power lines in Makoko. The community reportedly accepted the proposal and demarcated the buffer zone using Nigerian flags.

However, the group alleged that government agents later destroyed the flags and carried out demolitions far beyond the agreed limits.

“It is a cruel irony that the Lagos government destroyed the very Nigerian flags used to mark the agreed buffer zone—an act reminiscent of the brutal suppression of #EndSARS protesters who waved the Nigerian flag at the Lekki Toll Gate,” the statement said.

The movement further alleged that demolitions in Makoko have extended beyond 400 metres, with sand-filling operations already underway. It warned that the situation mirrors the forced displacement of Maroko residents in 1976, which left thousands homeless.

APM accused the Lagos State Government of engaging in rampant land grabbing driven by capitalist greed, noting that the demolitions are occurring amid a housing deficit estimated at over six million units in Lagos.

According to the group, skyrocketing rents have pushed decent housing far beyond the reach of most Lagosians, many of whom survive on less than one dollar a day.

“Securing accommodation in Lagos has become almost like rocket science. Rents are so outrageously high that the average worker’s monthly wage can no longer afford a decent place to live,” the group stated.

The Ajegunle Peoples Movement demanded an immediate halt to all demolitions, warning that the policy is worsening homelessness, inequality, and suffering among the working masses.

It also called on Makoko residents to remain resilient and continue to organize against what it described as state oppression, urging solidarity from labour unions, professional bodies, and civil society organisations.

Specifically, APM appealed to the Nigerian Bar Association (Ikeja Branch), Association of Female Lawyers, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Amnesty International, and other civil society groups to intervene.

The movement further demanded comprehensive compensation for affected families, including those who have lost homes, livelihoods, loved ones, and cultural heritage, as well as psycho-social support for women and children traumatized by the demolitions.

“This is a fight for justice, dignity, and the fundamental right to shelter and community,” the group concluded.