Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has accused some non-governmental organisations, both local and international, of exploiting the demolition exercise in the Makoko area of the state for financial gain.
The governor made the allegation on Monday while speaking with journalists, insisting that certain NGOs were capitalising on the situation rather than genuinely advocating for affected residents.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the state government is aware that some organisations have been profiting from the controversy surrounding the demolition and have allegedly received substantial funding from international donors under questionable claims.
“We are aware that there are some local and international NGOs trying to profit from this situation,” the governor said. “We are investigating and will present evidence to support our claims.
“They have raised large sums of money from international sources, securing numerous grants supposedly meant for these communities. Unfortunately, much of that has been used to cover up falsehoods and the fact that they have failed to deliver on what they promised.”
Sanwo-Olu argued that the outspoken reactions from such groups were disproportionate, suggesting ulterior motives behind their actions.
“That is why they are shouting and crying more than the bereaved. We are ready to confront them and clearly explain why the government had to take the actions it did,” he added.
The governor noted that the state government’s decision had been widely misrepresented, with conflicting narratives circulating about the Makoko demolition and similar interventions.
He stressed that the exercise was carried out strictly in the interest of public safety, pointing out that many of the affected structures were illegally erected beneath high-tension power lines.
“What possible interest would the government have in demolishing people’s homes if it were not for the safety of lives?” Sanwo-Olu asked. “Many of these shanties were built directly under high-tension cables.”
He further stated that Lagos could not afford to ignore such risks, warning that failure to act could lead to avoidable disasters.
“We cannot run a lawless state. At some point, decisive action must be taken because we cannot sit back and allow a calamity to happen,” the governor said.
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