(Links i dette indlæg er på engelsk, medmindre andet er angivet)
De fleste nigerianere støtter som regel ‘udviklings’-projekter, så det var ret ironisk, da de nigerianske sociale medie-platforme flød over af harme over den nylige nedrivning af en slum. I tilfældet med slummen Makoko [1] virkede det som om ingen var berørte over Lagos’ lokalregerings beslutning om at rive slummen ned, men de var vrede over ‘måden hvorpå’ det blev gjort.
Makoko (Photo credits: Communityimpactng.wordpress.com)
Den 12. juli vågnede beboerne i Makoko-slumområdet op til et kortfristet varsel [2]fra Lagos [3]‘ lokalregering:
“You have continued to occupy and develop shanties and unwholesome structures on the waterfront without authority thereby constituting environmental nuisance, security risks, impediments to economic and gainful utilization of the waterfront such as navigation, entertainment, recreation etc.
“The state government is desirous of restoring the amenity and value of waterfront, protect lives and property, promote legitimate economic activities on the waterfront, restore security, improve water transportation and beautify the Lagos waterfront/coastline to underline the megacity status of Lagos State and has decided to clear all illegal and unauthorised development on its waterfront and water bodies.
“Therefore, notice is hereby given to you to vacate and remove all illegal developments along the Makoko/Iwaya Waterfront within 72 hours of receipt of this notice.”
“I er forsat med at besætte og udvikle slum og usunde bygninger ud til havnefronten uden tilladelse, hvorved der er opstået miljøgener, sikkerhedsrisici, hindringer for økonomisk og gavnlig udnyttelse af kysten f.eks. til navigation, underholdning, afslapning osv.“ Lokalregeringen ønsker at genoprette de tiltrækkende kvaliteter ved og værdien af havnefronten, at beskytte liv og ejendom, fremme lovlige økonomiske aktiviteter, genskabe sikkerheden, forbedre vandtransporten og at forskønne Lagos’ havnefront/kystlinie for at understrege Lagos’ status som megaby, og har besluttet at fjerne alle ulovlige og uautoriserede bygninger langs havnefronten og vandområderne.
“Derfor overbringes denne besked om at forlade alle ulovlige bygninger langs Makoko/Iwaya-havnefronten, inden for 72 timer efter modtagelsen af denne besked.”
Måden hvorpå regeringen foretog nedrivningen af slummen mindede mange om de mørke nætter under Nigerias militærdiktatur. Den tid hvor brug af magt var tilladt og regimerne ikke bad om samtykke før de reagerede, og ofte sluttede erklæringer med sætningen “med øjeblikkelig effekt”. Yimiton [4] fortæller:
Several soldiers, police officers and officers from other paramilitary agencies, on Monday, stormed the Makoko (Ilaje) water front area of Lagos, demolishing houses and shanties. More than 2,500 persons, mostly fishermen and their families have been rendered homeless. There is pandemonium as the people were sighted running helter-skelter to avoid being shot by the armed soldiers and police officers. Some of the residents interviewed complained that the eviction will alter their way of life and disrupt their means of livelihood. They wondered where the government expects them to go. At the time of publishing this report, it remains unclear if provision has been made for the relocation of the displaced residents by the Lagos State government.
Twitterbrugere fordømte regeringens afstumpethed og umenneskelige initiativ som resultat af ønsket om udvikling:
@tejucole [5]: The living conditions in Makoko were appalling, but appalling, too, is waking up to guns, bulldozers, violence, and sudden homelessness.
@xeenarh: [6] # [7]Makoko is a settlement in Lagos under the 3rd mainland bridge. D residents have lived there for over 107 years, today Fashola is evicting (th)em
@segundemuren [8]: I grew up in Oyadiran Estate, Sabo, Yaba & used frequented Makoko. It is an enterprising community with its own dynamics.
Hvem vil kæmpe de fordrevnes sag?
@abdulahiaborode [9]: I personally don't like the living standard of # [7]Makoko I'd tot of the demolition severally but not providing shelter for them is inhuman.
@MrSleevesUp [10] #Lagos State: before u demolish poor homes in Makoko, demolish rich homes in VI (Victoria Island) and Ikoyi on drainage path. D poor r always an easy target!
@AfricaHand [11]: So where did the people go? To build another slum…
@dreeee1 [12]: You knock Makoko down, make no alternatives and frown when your daughter or wife gets robbed in VI. Oyinbo dey call am – Domino Effect.
@Bantucrew [13]: Makoko saga: I beg make unna help us remind Fashola say Housing Na Human Right.
Digitale indfødte giver offline-ofrene en stemme:
@AfricasaCountry [14]: “I'm 33 years old & I was born in #Makoko [7] & all my life I've lived here. They stormed our homes destroying things. Where do we sleep now?”
@chineduozordi [15]: After her shanty in Makoko was demolished by the government, Janet and her 3 kids simply moved into their canoe ensconced under the 3MB (Third Mainland Bridge).
Alashocks blog [16] opsummerer de mest almindelige holdninger blandet nigerianerne på denne måde:
The demolition is absurd and sad, only if Lagos state government could resettle these displaced people before the demolition exercise…What about the school children? What about families who have grown up to know no other place aside Makoko as their hometown?
People’s lives should not just be a commodity that should be stockpiled and then scattered at will and/or as it pleases the government who ordinarily is meant to cater for its own people including shelter…
We are not saying Makoko should not be demolished for whatever reason/s, but please where are the re-integration plans for these homeless people in their thousands? Makoko people have been dealt with psychologically. They have blood and water flowing in them…They are human beings…even animals should not be treated like this. Height of irresponsibility and wickedness towards lives no man could create…
Nedrivningen er absurd og beklagelig, hvis bare Lagos’ lokalregering havde genhuset disse fordrevne mennesker før nedrivingsøvelsen…Hvad med skolebørnene? Hvad med familierne som er vokset op uden at kende til andre hjem end Makoko? Menneskeliv skal ikke bare betragtes som en vare der kan opbevares, og så senere spredes efter forgodtbefindende og/eller som det lyster regeringen, der normalt har det som opgave at tage sig af sin egen befolkning, inklusive at sørge for tag over hovedet…
Vi siger ikke at Makoko ikke bør rives ned givet de(n) rette grund, men hvor er integrationsplanerne for de tusindvis af hjemløse mennesker? Folkene fra Makoko er blevet håndteret psykologisk. Men der løber blod i deres årer…De er mennesker…selv dyr bør ikke behandles på denne måde. Et niveau af uansvarlighed og ondskab overfor liv som intet menneske kunne skabe…
Men alt håb er ikke ude for ofrene fra Makoko, eftersom den typiske nigerianske tradition for at hjælpe de ulykkelige [17] endnu engang har mødt udfordringen:
@eggheader [18]: Cc @xeenarh [19] RT @NosakhareR [20]: launching a campaign 4 D provision of alternative resettlement 4 #Makoko Join me @abraham_kure [21] @gbengasesan [22]