The embatled residents of waterfront communities and settlements in Lagos, under operating under the aegis of Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, have lamented the withdrawal of the Lagos State Government from the mediation process ordered by a Lagos State High Court.
Lagos State High Court had ordered the state government to seek “an alternative solution to the threat of forced eviction” from the lands the slum dwellers occupy.
The evicted residents in a statement signed by Akinrolabi Samuel, Bimbo Oshobe and Sani Mohammed, yesterday, in Lagos, members of the Federation said they had come back to the round table on Wednesday to at least hear what the state government would say.
They said it was, however, shocking that the government decided to unilaterally withdraw from the process of resolution through dialogue, which the Federation hoped could provide a solution to what it described as eviction hanging over 300, 000 Lagosians living in waterfront communities across the state.
“The step is also at extreme odds with the public statement made by the Lagos Commissioner of Information on March 22, 2017, affirming the government’s unflinching commitment to the development of Lagos State as an ideal megacity that is sensitive to the needs of the public as well as open and continuous dialogue,” added the Federation.
It would be recalled that Justice S.A. Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court had on January 26, 2017 ordered the parties to attempt mediation through the Lagos State Multi-Door Courthouse.
Our correspondent observed that several families are still living in makeshift structures they have managed to put together after the demolition, with blinds and nylons as walls.
Many others were seen huddled together under some flimsy sheds surrounded with discolored water.
When contacted , the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Sanusi Olajide, declined to comment on the issue.