Makoko
Makoko is a poor and isolated community located on the coast of Mainland Lagos, – the megacity of some 21 million people. Makoko is a marginalized community with half the population on water and half on land. It is believed that its first inhabitants settled here more than 150 years ago. Houses on water are built from hardwood, supported by wood stilts driven deep into the waterbed.
Young people in Makoko do not have a proper education and unemployment is very high.
Residents can be seen traveling by canoe or over a wooden bridge. No wonder the community is also referred to as the “world’s biggest floating slum.” Majority of the Makoko residents who live on water are the Egun people who relocated from Badagry and Republic of Benin.
Makoko is one of Africa's most unique inner-city slums, it is very painful to visit it. Makoko
is calling for help but Nigeria will not listen. So many people in Makoko are so angry with
the way things are but they are too weak to speak. I will speak for them!
Lack of sanitation is the BIG ISSUE – there are communal toilets, but they have to be
shared by about 15 households, and sewage, kitchen scraps and all kinds of materials end up
in the water under their homes. Makokos water is dangerous for people to drink and many
of them live in darkness without any electricity.
The main economic activities are salt production, sand dredging, sawmills, firewood and
fishing. The chief of the village on land estimates that there are about 400,000 people living
in Makoko
Efter being to Makoko I had nightmare for many nights and it was like a sword had gone through my heart. I cannot believe this level of mans inhumanity to man.
