Urban slums in Lagos Mega City

on January 11, 2014 / in Special eport !"#! am / Comments

$y %s&ola balogun, Sam 'no(am, )lorence 'magiya an* %yabo 'ina +,er t&e years, t&e population boom in Lagos, t&e commercial ner,e centre o- t&e country &as put un*ue pressure on go,ernment an* in*i,i*uals as t&e *eman* -or &ousing continue* to rise -ar an* abo,e .&at t&e urbanise* areas can o--er/ 0&is coul* be one o- t&e reasons -or t&e &ig& number o- slums .it&in t&e precincts o- t&e city o- Lagos/ ' -e. years bac(, it .as rumoure* t&at t&e state a*,ise* many resi*ents .&o .ere -in*ing it *i--icult to li,e in t&e state to go bac( to t&eir &ome states an* .as e,en rea*y to assist t&em .it& a paltry sum to ai* t&eir return to t&eir &ome states/ 's more an* more people -in* t&eir .ays into t&e state1 t&e urban slums become settlements -or t&ose .&o are *etermine* to remain in t&e state an* e(e out a li,ing/ %n t&e remote areas o- %(otun, 23igbo, Ma3i*un4%(oro*u, +gba, 5io45io ,illage, 6a(o an* t&e popular '3egunle, t&ere are resi*ential areas .&ere *.ellings are un-it -or &uman &abitaion/ ' ,isit to t&e &interlan*s in many o- t&e abo,e areas .oul* re,eal t&e in&abitable, crampe*, poorly ,entilate* an* unclean en,ironment .&ere many li,e, .&ere -amilies bear an* raise c&il*ren an* socialise/ Satur*ay 7anguar* ,isite* t&ese areas an* -iles in t&ese reports/

Ma3i*un, %(oro*u Ma3i*un, %(oro*u area o- Lagos area is populate* mostly by t&e %la3es .&o *.ell in &ouses t&at .ere not only poorly built but o,er4cro.*e*/ Some o- t&e resi*ents .&o spo(e to Satur*ay 7anguar* maintaine* t&at t&e seemly cro.* at t&e time o- t&e ,isit .as as a result o- t&e *emolition along t&e %(oro*u roa* to pa,e t&e .ay -or on4 going roa* construction in t&e area/

86eople lately -oun* accomo*ation &ere because o- t&e *emolition t&at a--ecte* t&em as a result o- t&e on4going construction o- roa*s/9 0&at reason may not also be tenable -or t&e poor &ousing structure in most parts o- t&e area/ :ouses .ere carelessly built .it& lig&t .oo*s an* an* ;incs, yet t&ey are &omes -or many -amilies/ 6otable .ater .as anot&er lu<ury in t&e area/ $ecause t&ey are surroun*e* by a ri,er, resi*ents *epen* mainly on it as t&eir ma3or source o- .ater .&ic& are use* -or t&eir culinary c&ores, .as&ing an* bat&ing/ '3u.on ap&ael .&o spo(e .it& us *isclose* t&at 8.e pay &ea,ily -or .ater4tan(ers .ee(ly to *eli,er .ater .&ic& .e *rin(/9 Since t&ey resort to t&e ri,er -or t&eir .ater nee*, t&ey may be e<pose* to ris( o- .aterborne *iseases, especially t&e c&il*ren/ Since it is regar*e* as a community on its o.n, no &ealt& unit is close to t&e en,ironment/ %n -act, many o- t&em resort to &erbal &omes -or t&eir &ealt& an* maternity c&allenges/

=+(e '-a 6oor &ousing units suc& as t&ese, inaccessibility to one or more o- better li,ing con*itions result in a slum li-estyle an* t&ese ma(e t&e in&abitants ,ulnerable to *isaster an* *estruction because t&e poor buil*ing materials cannot .it&stan* stormy .in*s or &ea,y rain-all/ 0&ese people as a result become not&ing but en*angere* species .it& greater ris( o- *isaster as a result o- t&eir ,ulnerability to t&e en,ironment in .&ic& t&ey li,e/ 0&e i*ea o- slums can only become &istory not only .&en .e attain t&e tall *ream o- t&e Mega city but .&en t&e go,ernment particularly pay attention to t&e li,ing con*itions o- its people, pro,i*ing t&e necessary amenities an* o- course .&en t&e ric& .&o &a,e to segregate t&emsel,es be&in* small gate* encla,es *ump t&e class system/ +(e '-a, %solo >espite t&e *e,elopment in Lagos metropolitan by t&e $abatun*e )as&ola le* a*ministration, some areas are still begging -or *e,elopment/ +ne o- suc& areas is t&e slum at +(e '-a, %solo/ ?&et&er one is coming -rom t&e %yana %solo a<is or Cele si*e going to.ar*s or coming -rom

23igbo or %(otun, .&at con-ronts one at t&e 6a(o bus stop intersection is t&e &uge re-use *ump .&ere all sorts o- ma(es&i-t s&anty &ouses are erecte* on t&e &eap o- t&e re-use/ Close to t&e cemetery o- t&ousan*s .&o lost t&eir li,es at t&e %(e3a cantonment bomb blast some years ago an* *i,i*e* by a stin(ing carnal, t&e -ence* re-use *ump site boasts o- ,arious acti,ities li(e petty tra*ing .&ic& inclu*e sale o- co.s, -oo*stu--s, so-t *rin(s, sac&et .ater, local gin (no.n to consumers as paraga, among ot&ers/ ' .&ole lot o- cart pus&ers .ere busy coming in an* going out .it& ,arious items/

='3egunle Close to t&e entrance is an ol* man .&o *irects .&ere t&ey pus& t&eir carts to/ 0&ose .it& re-use are not allo.e* in or ot&er stu--s t&at are not re@uire* insi*e t&e &uge re-use *ump site/ 0&ey go an* o-- loa* t&eir .ares an* probably get pai* an* mo,e on to scout -or more materials/ ?&en as(e* .&y t&e cart pus&ers .&o are suppose* to *ump t&eir re-use at t&e e<pansi,e site are not allo.e* to *o so, t&e ,isibly angry ol* man .&o .as pro,o(e* by &er teenage *aug&ter .&o le-t &er .ares to buy rice ans.ere*" 80&ey no longer use t&is place -or t&at again/ 'nyone .&o is caug&t .ill be *ragge* to t&e palace o- t&e +ba an* .ill be &ea,ily -ine*/9 Sensing t&at &e .as being si;e* up, t&e reporter stylis&ly pai* -or a bottle o- *rin( &e boug&t -rom t&e ol* mans *aug&ter an* sauntere* into t&e site -or more in,estigation/ 'll aroun* t&e premises are -ilt& o- ,arying magnitu*e littere* e,ery.&ere .it& accompanying o--ensi,e o*our emanating -rom in an* aroun* t&e big compoun*/ 0&ere are (ios(s almost at e,ery corner/ 0&ere is &ar*ly any usable item t&at cannot be -oun* t&ere/ )rom *isuse* c&il*rens s.ing, large plastic .ater containers, rags, irons, re-rigerators, 07 sets, mattresses, rags, -urniture, bottles, cans, plan(s, car steering, among ot&ers/

0&ere .ere some men at *i--erent parts o- t&e site &a,ing t&eir bat&s in t&e open as t&ere .ere no public or pri,ate bat&rooms an* toilets inclu*ing *rainage system o- any sort/ +ne iron ben*er .as busy ben*ing, cutting an* straig&tening iron ro*s .&ile &is client sat on an ol* re-rigerator/ )e. people .ere also .aiting -or t&eir .ares li(e *isuse* an* ol* roo-ing ;incs to be scale* an* get pai* peanut li(e A#0, per *o;en/ Some ot&ers .ere seen &al- na(e* sleeping, la;ying about an* smo(ing .ee*s, cigarettes as .ell as *rin(ing local gin/ Upon in,estigation, it .as gat&ere* t&at t&e s&anties are actually resi*ents -or t&e cart pus&ers as .ell as *ealers in all (in*s o- ot&er relate* businesses/ Most o- t&em are :ausas an* accor*ing to one o- t&em Bname .it&&el*C t&e cost o- rent is A1,000 per mont& payable to t&e +ba/ :e says" 8 's you can see all aroun* &ere, people are li,ing &ere/ 0&at is my apartment t&ere/ ?e are not staying &ere -or -ree/ ?e pay A1,000 to t&e +ba e,ery mont&/ 0&e +ba o.ns t&is lan*/ ?e *ont &a,e lig&t, no .ater, not&ing/ ?e stay &ere an* *o our business/9 0&ey also &a,e a (in* o- segregation at t&e slum/ ?&ile -e. people close to t&e entrance are en3oying electric po.er supply, t&ose insi*e &a,e no -orm o- electricity but t&ey loo( satis-ie* in t&eir small ma(es&i-t rooms/ Unity, in +gba +gba .&ic& is about -i,e (ilometres ?est o- %(e3a, is a *ensely populate* area .it& a mi< o- bot& &ig& an* lo.4income earners/ >espite its assuming popularity o- t&e area, it &abours .&at coul* pass as a slum/ ' ,isit to Unity Street in %-a(o %3aye a<is, t&e area t&at s&ares pro<imity .it& 'gu*a bus stop .oul* re,eal people li,ing .it&in Lagos city but are cut o-- -rom t&e .in* o*e,elopment in t&e ma3or parts o- t&e state/ Satur*ay 7anguar* gat&ere* -rom one o- t&e Community >e,elopment 'ssociation lea*ers in t&e area .&o *oes not .ant &is name in print t&at t&e people pro,i*e ,irtually e,eryt&ing -or t&emsel,es inclu*ing roa*s t&at are not motorable/ 8?e &a* constructe* some roa*s on our o.n .&ic& lin( ,arious streets toget&er a-ter se,eral complaints to t&e go,ernment .&ic& *i* not yiel* any result9/ 'not&er resi*ent, 2,ang/ 0imot&y +*e*e3i, C&airman C>' in t&e area, sai*" 80&e go,ernment &as not been -air to us, .e are al.ays en*angere* anytime t&ere is rain-all/ ?e &a,e crie* to t&e go,ernment to at least &elp us to *ig a canal but to no a,ail/ 0&ere .as a time t&ey starte* aroun* 'biola si*e to Mo*upe but t&ey stoppe* e,entually an* not&ing &as &appene* since t&en/9

:e lamente* incessant buil*ing collapse .it& atten*ant loss o- li,es an* properties in t&e area/ esi*ents spea( M/+ Lambe, a resi*ent sai*" 8?&en people -rom ot&er places as( us .&ere .e stay, .e tell t&em t&at .e li,e in Lagos/ Me an* my -amily &a,e been li,ing in t&is ;inc &ouse -or t&e past 1D years no./ %ts not t&at .e .is& to li,e in t&is (in* o- &ouse but because o- t&e situation .e -in* oursel,es/ % use* to li,e in a ,ery goo* an* com-ortable &ouse but it collapse*/ % &a,e no c&oice t&an to mo,e in &ere an* my rent &ere is 1000 naira per mont& / So my o.n comment is t&at t&e go,ernment s&oul* come to our rescue/9

%reolu.a 5omola-e sai*" 8 esi*ents are not sa-e &ere at all/ +ur ma3or problem &ere is *igging o- canal because t&e one t&ey *i* &ere is ,ery small an* it ma(es e,ery.&ere to be -loo*e* *uring rainy season an* it ma(es t&e buil*ings to be .ea(/9 0olani '3isegiri, a lan*lor* sai*" 80&e trut& is t&at .e are .it&in Lagos but .e are not really li,ing in Lagos/ 0&is is because our o.n Lagos is *i--erent -rom t&eir Lagos/ $ecause li,ing in t&is (in* o- en,ironment is li(e li,ing #0 years be&in* mo*ernisation/ Eo,ernment s&oul* &elp us/9 5io45io 7illiage 0&e %;ons -rom t&e Aiger4*elta area o- t&e country &a,e been (no.n -or t&eir cultural pre-erence in li,ing in ri,erine areas largely because o- t&eir main occupation o- -is&ing/ Ci,ilisation not.it&stan*ing, t&e %;ons &a,e continue* to li,e t&is .ay -rom time immemorial an* not&ing

suggests t&at in t&e near -uture, t&e situation .oul* completely c&ange/ :ence, t&ey are most -rien*ly .it& .ater/ $ut many &a,e .on*ere* &o. t&ey &a,e been able to sur,i,e in t&eir en,ironment .&ic& ree(s o- -ilt&, pollution an* general aban*onment by t&e go,ernment/ ?it&out mincing .or*s, t&ey &ibernate in slums/ 'n* t&ey are scattere* in t&e Sout& sout& an* sout&.est/ %n Lagos, be it in +(o4oba or .&ere,er else t&ey c&oose to stay, t&e *eplorable situation o- t&eir en,ironment calls -or concern/ 0a(ing a loo( at 5io(io ,illage along %(oro*u roa*, t&e %;on community -rom e,ery in*ication is -ar be&in* in t&e *e,elopment by t&e Lagos state go,ernment/ ?&et&er you are coming -rom %(oro*u4 'gric area or +.o*e4 '3egunle a<is1 t&e entrance o- t&is ,illage .oul*nt tell you muc& o- t&e state, but entering t&e ,illage, one .oul* t&in( &e or s&e is bac( to t&e Stone 'ge/ 0&e s&anty &ouses .it&out pro,isions -or toilet systems or bat&ing system .oul* greet your arri,al1 t&e ri,er on t&e en* o- t&e ,illage ser,es t&at purpose/ 5no.n -or t&eir e<pertise in mi*.i-ery an* treatment o- bones, most o- t&ese s&anty &ouses boast o- suc& acti,ities asi*e manu-acturing o- local gin an* pure .ater/ ?&en as(e* .&y t&e ri,er is use* -or t&is purpose instea* o- buil*ing a toilet system in t&eir ,arious &omes, .e learnt it .as c&eaper to buil* one ma(es&i-t latrine an* bat&room -or t&e entire ,illage t&an to buil* in*i,i*ual ones in in*i,i*ual &omes/ ' mi**le age* man .&o plea*e* anonymity tol* us t&at it is ,ery e<pensi,e to buil* a toilet system .it& pipes lea*ing to t&e ri,er/ :e also re,eale* t&at t&e groun* is .ater 4logge* an* *igging it -or t&e purpose o- a toilet system &as ne,er been t&oug&t about/ :e also &inte* t&at it .as not cultural -or t&em to &a,e in*i,i*ual toilet system/ %t .as also *isco,ere* t&at t&e ri,er surge &as repeate*ly *isplace* t&em an* putting all t&eir eggs in one bas(et in 5io(io ,illage is -utile/ 0&e ri,er surge &as cost t&e in*igenes o- 5io(io ,illage -ortunes in t&e past1 no .on*er, t&ey are not in a &urry to buil* mo*ern buil*ings/ Since, t&ese people li,e in Lagos an* pay t&eir ta<es, one .oul* t&in( it is incumbent on t&e state go,ernment to e<ten* *i,i*en*s o- *emocracy to t&eir region as .ell as pre,ent outbrea( o*iseases especially t&e recent outbrea( o- c&olera .&ic& &as to *o .it& .ater/
4 See more at" &ttp"//.../,anguar*ngr/com/2014/01/urban4slums4lagos4mega4city/Fst&as&/5,MDGcs+/*pu-