Millions of residents in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos will be relocated, writes World Bank Press Review, Monday.
Commissioner Tunji Bello of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment has said that the relocation would be coming on the heels of the World Bank’s $200 million (knap 1,2 milliarder kr.) loan it granted to the state government for the development of certain disaster zones.
Apapa-Iganmu, Iwaya Makoko, Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Ikate Surulere are some of the nine blighted local councils that will benefit from the World Bank’s loan.
These are the slums being inhabited by millions of residents in the low income earning grades of the states.
The residents of the affected local governments will be relocated to Alimosho and Lekki areas where the state still has enough landed properties. Low cost housing estates will be built for them there.
Human rights organizations have reported that during three days at the end of April 2005, approximately 3,000 residents of the community of Makoko were forcibly evicted from their houses in execution of a court judgment from 2000 which granted ownership of the area to a private owner.
The project will last four years to complete and will include proper planning and the construction of drainage and waste management facilities.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
