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FORCED DISPLACEMENT OF MILLIONS NATIONWIDE

Across Nigeria and especially in our cities, millions upon millions have been displaced from their homes and businesses due to force eviction.

From 2000 to 2006, experts at the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions estimated over two million forcibly evicted in Nigeria. In the last decade, we have witnessed at least a million more, including:

• Njemanze waterfront in Port Harcourt (2009);
• Makoko Temidire in Lagos (2010);
• Otumara in Lagos (2012);
• Abonnema Wharf waterfront in Port Harcourt (2012);
• Makoko on water in Lagos (2012);
• Badia East in Lagos (2013);
• Odoiragunshi in Lagos (2013);
• Atinporome in Lagos (2013);
• Badia East in Lagos (2015);
• Redeemed & Andoni Villages in Port Harcourt (2016);
• Ilubirin in Lagos (2016);
• Otodo Gbame in Lagos (2016-2017);
• Ayogologo waterfront in Port Harcourt (2017); and
• Abete Iwaya in Lagos (2017).

We have been able to document these evictions and support our forcibly evicted brothers and sisters in the cities where we are active. But, we can only imagine how many millions more are suffering the same forced eviction in relative silence in other urban centers across the country.

Like clockwork, evictions stop in the lead-up to elections and start again once we have been used for our votes and the winners take office.

THE HUMAN IMPACTS OF FORCED EVICTION

As anyone who has experienced forced eviction knows firsthand, the impacts of forced eviction are devastating and long-lasting. Homelessness. Negative health consequences. Death. Family Separation. Loss of livelihood. Destruction of property and investments. Interruption of education. Debt. 
Evictions are burned into the memories and legacies of the displaced.

We hear their stories and witness the suffering daily. We have also done research to document these impacts empirically and trace the long-term impacts on those evicted who struggle with all of this for years to come.

FORCED EVICTIONS UNDERMINE OUR DEVELOPMENT

We should not be deceived by those who pretend that forced evictions are about development. Forced evictions are driven by land grab, by powerful interests who make money from real estate speculation, etc.

Forced evictions do not make our cities safer or cleaner or more organized. They shift problems from one place to another. And they undermine capacity of families and communities to move out of poverty and improve infrastructure.

IMPUNITY AROUND FORCED EVICTIONS & THE RULE OF LAW

Forced evictions are illegal and unconstitutional. Yet despite court orders and international condemnation, mass forced evictions persist. Elected leaders hide behind executive immunity and false propaganda to continue to displace millions for selfish gains. The impunity around forced evictions and other mass rights violations undermines rule of law and our future peace and security.

THE ANTI-FORCED EVICTION BILL - NATIONAL CONSENSUS

We need a national consensus to end forced evictions. We must demand all aspirants running for political office should declare their commitment to end forced evictions. We must call on our legislators to support the ongoing effort to pass a national law prohibiting and safeguarding against forced evictions.

For more information, follow @NaijaFederation & @justempower:
#EndForcedEvictions #AntiFEBill #OtodoGbame #Justice4OtodoGbame

Call on Your Legislator to Support the #AntiFEBill Today!