This Is Makoko, The Venice Of Africa (Photos)

Makoko is not new to people who live and work in Lagos. The place became a centre of global attraction in 2012 and ever since then, NGOs, foreign government, among others have beamed their searchlight on this place.

Makoko can best be described as the Venice of Lagos as it is a slum with little or nothing to write about.

Makoko has a close boundary with 3rd Mainland Bridge. The slum located on the coast of the mainland in Lagos, Nigeria. One third of the community is built on stilts along the lagoon and the rest is on the land. The waterfront part of the community is largely harboured by the Egun people who migrated from Badagary and Republic of Benin and whose main occupation is fishing. In July 2012, the Lagos State government ordered that some of the stilts beyond the power-lines be brought down without proper notice. This led to the destruction of several stilts on the Iwaya/Makoko waterfront and many families were rendered homeless.

Established in the 19th century, much of Makoko rests in structures constructed on stilts above Lagos Lagoon. Makoko is a neighbouring community to Iwaya on the waterfront and Oko Baba. In July 2012, Lagos State government under the governorship of Babatunde Fashola ordered that the stilts on the Iwaya/Makoko waterfront be demolished and dozens of stilts were demolished within 72 hours of notice to the residents. Nearly 3,000 people lost their homes to the demolition exercise.

• Related Post: InterSwitch and Slum2School Partner, donates STEM – Innovation Lab To Makoko Children

Two months after the partial demolition, a Serac housing affiliate known as the Urban Spaces Innovation developed a regeneration plan for Makoko that would bring the community together with academics, non-profits, and international consultants. The plan was submitted to the Lagos State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning in January 2014.

Makoko is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of Africa”.

These are some of the amazing pictures captured by Moha Sheikh on the Makoko area…

• Read Also: Lagos Begins Removal Of Bottlenecks At Lekki Roundabouts As Sanwo-Olu Inspects Removal

Photo Credits:
Moha Shekieh, SassyFunke, Wikipedia