Makoko: The Slum Known As The Venice Of AfricaIn what is supposed to be the second fastest-growing city
in Africa and the seventh in the world (Lagos) lies the most unlivable
place in Nigeria.
This place is no other than the Venice of Africa; Makoko. Makoko is a
paradox of living as the community thrives on water, residents here
lack access to safe drinking water. When it rains, conditions turn
particularly nasty.
If you drive from the mainland towards the Island though 3rd mainland bridge you can see Makoko at the Ebuta Metta diversion just below the bridge and its not hard to see why Naij.com has described the settlement as unlivable.
Al Jazeera claims Makoko used to be a small fishing village built by fishermen who came from Benin to make money more than a hundred years ago, before it grew into an illegally constructed one-square-kilometer urban settlement.
Al Jazeera further explains that the population now consists mainly of migrant workers from West African countries, trying to make a living in Nigeria. The oily black water is no longer suitable for fishing; it emits a pungent smell, and a thick layer of white scum gathers around the shack stilts.
Wikipedia notes that the area is essentially self-governing with a very limited government presence in the community and local security being provided by area boys.
A Naij.com correspondent was around the community and took gruesome pictures portraying Makoko as unbelievable:
There are no official census records of Makoko, but estimates suggest some 150,000 to 250,000 people live here. There have been numerous campaigns to alert the government to the plight of the residents of Makoko but efforts have been to no avail due to the residents refusing to leave.
If you drive from the mainland towards the Island though 3rd mainland bridge you can see Makoko at the Ebuta Metta diversion just below the bridge and its not hard to see why Naij.com has described the settlement as unlivable.
Al Jazeera claims Makoko used to be a small fishing village built by fishermen who came from Benin to make money more than a hundred years ago, before it grew into an illegally constructed one-square-kilometer urban settlement.
Al Jazeera further explains that the population now consists mainly of migrant workers from West African countries, trying to make a living in Nigeria. The oily black water is no longer suitable for fishing; it emits a pungent smell, and a thick layer of white scum gathers around the shack stilts.
Wikipedia notes that the area is essentially self-governing with a very limited government presence in the community and local security being provided by area boys.
A Naij.com correspondent was around the community and took gruesome pictures portraying Makoko as unbelievable:
Kids play inside a floating wooden boat at Makoko floating community.
Residents fetch drinking water from a water tank at Makoko floating community.
A trader conveying her goods to the market
A woman hawks and fry beans cake in a wooden boat at Makoko floating community.
A trader hawks food items in a wooden boat at Makoko floating community.
A trader hawk her wears in a wooden boat at Makoko floating community.
A trader hawk her wears in a wooden boat at Makoko floating community.
A
trader conveying cartons of imported fish from a local frozen store
house to her shop with a wooden boat in Makoko, floating community.
Fisher men fixing their fishing net at Makoko floating community
Residents of Makoko floating community about to board a wooden boat to their respective business.
A man heading to work at makoko floating community.
An electrician fixing a bad television set in his makeshift shop at Makoko.
There are no official census records of Makoko, but estimates suggest some 150,000 to 250,000 people live here. There have been numerous campaigns to alert the government to the plight of the residents of Makoko but efforts have been to no avail due to the residents refusing to leave.
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