Food is available in abundance across Lagos, yet many families in Makoko—who live in a vulnerable, makeshift slum built on water—still go to bed hungry every night, facing both hunger and the daily dangers of their unstable environment.
Makoko is an informal settlement located along the Lagos Lagoon in Lagos, Nigeria. Often referred to as the "Venice of Africa," part of the community is built on stilts above the water, while the rest spreads across the land. Despite its vibrant culture and strong sense of community, Makoko is marked by extreme poverty, overcrowding, and limited access to basic services.
The area is largely unrecognized by the government, leaving residents without legal land rights or consistent public support. Living conditions are precarious, especially in the floating slum areas, where homes are vulnerable to flooding, fire, and waterborne diseases.
Key Challenges Faced by People in Makoko:
Floating on the edge of Lagos, Makoko is a community often overlooked, yet it pulses with resilience, creativity, and untold stories of human strength. Built partly on stilts over the water, it is home to thousands who navigate daily life with resourcefulness and dignity. Despite immense challenges, Makoko remains a symbol of survival and the enduring spirit of its people.
Sanitation in Makoko is a daily struggle, with most households lacking access to proper toilets, sewage systems, or waste disposal services. Residents often rely on makeshift latrines or are forced to defecate in open spaces or directly into the lagoon, leading to severe health and environmental risks, including the spread of waterborne diseases. In response, we are working alongside community leaders to introduce safe, low-cost sanitation solutions such as eco-friendly compost toilets, while also promoting hygiene education and building local capacity to manage waste sustainably.
In Makoko, thousands of families live in fragile, makeshift homes—many perched on stilts above polluted water—leaving them exposed to flooding, fire, and disease. The lack of secure, dignified housing remains one of the community’s most urgent challenges. In response, Global Faith For Action is supporting a proposed $500 million initiative to develop safe, affordable housing on stable land for Makoko residents. This ambitious project aims to relocate families from high-risk areas into sustainable, well-planned communities with access to clean water, sanitation, and essential services—while ensuring that residents are fully involved in the design and decision-making process.
Education in Makoko faces significant barriers, with many children unable to attend school regularly due to poverty, overcrowded classrooms, and a lack of formal infrastructure. In a community where most families survive on subsistence incomes, school fees, uniforms, and supplies are often out of reach. Some informal schools operate on wooden platforms above the water, run by dedicated local teachers with limited resources. Despite these challenges, the desire for learning remains strong among Makoko’s youth.
In Makoko, housing is more than shelter — it’s the foundation for dignity, opportunity, and unity. Our research and innovation efforts are centered on creating sustainable, adaptable, and resilient living spaces that reflect the unique needs of our water-based community.
Through collaborative design, local knowledge, and smart building methods, we’re developing a new model for housing — one that’s affordable, environmentally conscious, and scalable. These homes are not just structures; they’re part of a bigger vision to build a connected, thriving neighborhood where families can grow, learn, and lead.
Makoko, a waterfront slum in Lagos, Nigeria, is home to thousands living in overcrowded stilt houses with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water, healthcare, and education. Most residents rely on fishing for income, but pollution and overfishing have made this increasingly difficult. Despite these challenges, the community is tightly knit and resilient, with grassroots initiatives like floating schools offering hope. However, Makoko remains largely neglected by formal urban development efforts.
Migration from Makoko to the mainland is part of our ongoing project to help residents escape extreme poverty and unsafe living conditions. We are developing affordable housing with access to clean water, healthcare, education, and job opportunities to support a sustainable transition. By working with local leaders and families, we aim to ensure the move is inclusive and preserves the community’s identity.
We have planned to build over 10,000 homes as part of our relocation initiative for residents of Makoko, ensuring that each family has access to safe, stable housing. Our goal is to maintain a high stability rate by providing long-term support, so relocated individuals are not displaced again. This includes job placement assistance, skills training, and social programs designed to help families become self-sufficient. By creating a strong support system, we aim to ensure that every household can build a sustainable future on the mainland.
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