Nigeria Police Fire Tear Gas As Makoko Protests Widen

Tuesday 27th January 2026

By inAfrika Newsroom

Nigeria Makoko protests escalated in Lagos on Wednesday after police fired tear gas during demonstrations in the city’s floating slum community, intensifying a tense standoff linked to planned demolitions and relocation fears.

Reuters reported that at least one protester was injured during the confrontation, as residents and supporters rallied against what they describe as an impending displacement drive.

Makoko sits on the Lagos Lagoon and has long been a symbol of Nigeria’s urban inequality: a dense settlement where residents face insecure tenure and limited access to sanitation and basic services, while state authorities periodically pursue redevelopment and enforcement actions. The latest clashes underline the operational risks that arise when infrastructure, land, and environmental policy collide with informal housing realities.

Urban planners and public health specialists have warned that abrupt clearance actions can trigger secondary crises—loss of livelihoods, disrupted schooling, and higher disease exposure—unless backed by credible compensation, resettlement planning, and service continuity in new locations.

Nigeria’s wider city-governance challenge is regional in relevance. Africa’s coastal megacities are growing fast, and disputes over land use, climate resilience, and informal settlements are becoming more frequent as governments tighten zoning controls and pursue investment-led redevelopment.

The Lagos incident also has implications for policing standards and public order management. Heavy-handed crowd control can widen mistrust and complicate future negotiations, while local authorities argue that unregulated settlements can create safety and environmental risks.

Next steps

Nigeria Makoko protests are expected to continue as community leaders seek formal assurances on timelines, relocation terms, and compensation, while police and state agencies face scrutiny over crowd-control conduct.

Why it matters

Urban redevelopment disputes in Lagos can disrupt livelihoods and raise governance risks in one of Africa’s largest commercial hubs, with ripple effects for investor confidence and city resilience planning.