Lagos To Demolish Ultra Modern Makoko Floating School

THE Lagos state government has outlawed the ultra modern Makoko Floating School barely seven months after the construction started. The school that is expected to address perennial flooding that truncate access to education by children of the community may never be allowed to operate after-all. The three_storey building with an area of 220 metres was built on a foundation of 256 plastic drums and powered by solar panels suspended on the roof. It is aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, Goal II, which is to boost universal primary education. The floating school being built jointly by the residents of Makoko/Iwaya Waterfront community, Yaba Local Council Development Area, LCDA, United Nation Development Programme, UNDP and a private firm -NLE works, Nigeria, was expected to accommodate no fewer than 100 pupils and their teachers.
The founder of NLE, and promoter of the floating school, Mr. Kunle Adeyemi who spoke to Vanguard from his Netherland office, said that the structure would have served as an extension of the only existing school in the coastal community_ Whayinna Nursery and Primary school. Adeyemi said that the ground floor of the three_storey building serves as an open recreational space for the pupils during the day and as a public arena for community activities after school hours. While the first and the upper floors have classrooms that would have served primary classroom purposes. [b] Govt says it’s an illegal structure:
Speaking on government’s position on the school, the Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development in Lagos State, Prince Adesegun Oniru said; “The floating school has been illegal since inception. The owner of the floating school waited until there was a legal issue in the area before he commenced the construction of the school.” According to him; “So as far as that floating school is concerned, it was erected without the permission of the state government. “The simple answer to the floating school is that it is an illegal structure and it shouldn’t be there.” The commissioner said that its development will affect the government’s redevelopment plan for the area, saying “This wouldn’t deter us to abandon our plan for the area.”

vanguardngr.com/2013/04/floating-school-for-makoko-slum-residents/floating-house/

While we are in the business of celebrating cool "Suspension bridges" in Lekki lets also spare a thought for the poor that must be forced out of sight or crammed into city - sized slums like Ajegunle where they are forgotten in a hurry. One thing Fashola wont tolerate is the eye-soring poverty of poor people obfuscating his well intended and deliberately designed unequal development of Lagos state. It's the govt of the Elite, by the Elite and for the Elite, run run paupers.

I keep wondering why Fashola hates the poor so much, not content with destroying poor and innocent peoples properties on land he's carrying over his insanity to the lagoon?
Sometime ago there was talk of converting the Makoko settlement to some kind of African Venice and you'd expect the hypocrite to embrace the idea but no way, this one went on a rampage weeks later destroying peoples homes in a senseless rampage that left entire families drifting in the lagoon for weeks without end. They've managed to gather their lives back and just when the future of their children seems to be under real helpful consideration, the pauper - hating governor is about to roll out the marine bulldozers again!
When in a few years this ids that are about to be denied basic education start robbing and bombing the rich hitherto pampered by Fashola and his band of elitists I hope his asslickers will recall how they all gradually sowed the wind. God help us all.

keishik: I keep wondering why Fashola hates the poor so much, not content with destroying poor and innocent peoples properties on land he's carrying over his insanity to the lagoon?
Sometime ago there was talk of converting the Makoko settlement to some kind of African Venice and you'd expect the hypocrite to embrace the idea but no way, this one went on a rampage weeks later destroying peoples homes in a senseless rampage that left entire families drifting in the lagoon for weeks without end. They've managed to gather their lives back and just when the future of their children seems to be under real helpful consideration, the pauper - hating governor is about to roll out the marine bulldozers again!
When in a few years this ids that are about to be denied basic education start robbing and bombing the rich hitherto pampered by Fashola and his band of elitists I hope his asslickers will recall how they all gradually sowed the wind. God help us all.

Very well said.

Is it not funny how this thread was ignored by the usual Fashola - Tinubu praise singers? Where's Eko Ile, Seanet, gbawe and co.? Let them come and justify why inequality and unequal development seems to be the number one economic policy if Baba Fashola

They don't want the children of the poor to be educated. This is consistent with their policy of reducing educational opportunities across the South West, either by increasing fees astronomically, or closing down educational institutions outrightly, and sharing the land, like they did at Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikosi campus, which is now the premises of TVC and Radio Continental, both owned by Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The rest of the land was converted to an Editors Village, for editors of media houses that pledge their loyalty to the thieving, bug-eyed jagabandit of Bourdillon, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

But really, is it safe studying on that thing?

whirlwind nko?

^ Lol @ Jagabandit. Truth is Fashola and Tinubu are just storing up trouble for Lagos and Nigeria as a whole, just this morning I was reading a Standard Bank report that puts the very poor in Lagos at 97% of her residents and yet the government pays them near zero attention while at the same time directing their meagre resources and infrastructure to service the 3% well-to-do. It's so sad.

Raji Fashola.
Making a difference in Lagos State... Kosovo Style!

effisyman: But really, is it safe studying on that thing?

whirlwind nko?

Whirlwind wey never still destroy Venice?

effisyman: But really, is it safe studying on that thing?

whirlwind nko?

We don't have whirlwinds in Naija moreover, this is the life these people know. Their homes are built on stilts you'd be too scared to stand on yet on it they live and thrive. In any case, the Lagos state govt arent opposed over safety but "aesthetic concerns". It doesnt matter if it's real people that actually live there, all that matters is a pleasant window sight when Fashola, Tinubu and their guests drive past.

Op ask yourself is the place fit for school or is this the kind of school u attended?

Like I said 7months ago. " Its cool but dangerous"
I would not want my kid floating on a 3 storey building.

What suitable alternatives is the LASG providing for these water people of Makoko?

alaoeri: Op ask yourself is the place fit for school or is this the kind of school u attended?

Neither did I live in a home of stilts or a floating settlement called Makoko! People are trying to make the best of a terrible situation, quit being an airhead!

“The simple answer to the floating school is that it is an illegal structure and it shouldn’t be there.” The commissioner said that its development will affect the government’s redevelopment plan for the area, saying “This wouldn’t deter us to abandon our plan for the area.”

Plan wey una never still commence after all these years? Na true.

Lazy administrators can't think outside the box, and when someone does they simply label it illegal structure. Cows! Aside from providing the much needed educational relief for the kids, wouldn't it be a good thing to have a floating school in Lagos? It might even start up a frenzy of floating structures to make Lagos Africa's own Venice! But the lazy man can't see beyond his nose

K,k:
Like I said 7months ago. " Its cool but dangerous"
I would not want my kid floating on a 3 storey building.

Why? Cos its not called "The Queen Mary", Lagos Sunburn Yacht or some other fanciful name with elegant designs and airconditioned rooms or branded a "Cruise school"? Make una try get sense na!

I would like to get more (unbiased) info on this project (I say this because I see that the Yaba LCDA is involved). Did the builders seek planning permission before they began construction? Is the school approved by the ministry of education?

If its an illegal building, for the sake of the children's future tell them (the owners) how to legalise it!

I find it hard to believe cos i saw this makoko floating school when it was constructed by an N.G.O it those guys said it was in conjunction with the lagos state government. Am suprised seeing this Now

its sad to notice that the trend of fashola concentrating on the rich is true. Ain't the poor people anymore before any demolition is carried out the commissioner should list out the soo called governments intended development planns for thaat community.

Even if the project wasn't approved but isn't it helping the state achieve the mdg goals.

Actually, I don't think it's an issue of rich vs poor. Infantino Private School here in Lekki, had to stop operating from their premises (off Durosimi-Etti Street) because it contravened Ministry of Education rules about school premises.

Developers want to convert the former Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi into luxury flats, but they can't because they've not got planning permission.

Reconstruction works at the 1004 Estate on Victoria Island was delayed for months because the developer contravened planning rules. It was only resumed after the developer regularised their operations.

So the question is, did the builder obtain permission to build that structure and was it approved by the ministry of education?

nenergy: If its an illegal building, for the sake of the children's future tell them (the owners) how to legalise it!

I think the builders should sit down with the government and find out if they contravened any rules and how to regularise their operations. That's what the 1004 company did. It took months, but they succeeded.

naptu2:

I think the builders should sit down with the government and find out if they contravened any rules and how to regularise their operations. That's what the 1004 company did. It took months, but they succeeded.

But should'nt a govt. bogged down with shoccking a level of inequity and poverty be more disposed to helping the poorest people in the land? Why isnt the govt trying to dialogue with this NGO to provide some sort of alternative and acceptable site for such a laudable idea from a foreign funded NGO? Why are they more eager to destroy than see poor children educated?

wesley80:
But should'nt a govt. bogged down with shoccking a level of inequity and poverty be more disposed to helping the poorest people in the land? Why isnt the govt trying to dialogue with this NGO to provide some sort of alternative and acceptable site for such a laudable idea from a foreign funded NGO? Why are they more eager to destroy than see poor children educated?

But how do you know that won't happen?

Every society needs order. Rules and regulations are enacted to create that order. The people must follow these rules and regulations so that there will be order. Therefore, the first question is, did the builders follow the rules and regulations?

Secondly, even if the government will eventually dialogue with the builders and provide an alternative, the government must make the point that people must follow rules, otherwise people will go out and build all kinds of structures and demand that they should also be given exemptions. The result will be chaos (the type of chaos we witnessed in the '80s and '90s when military governments ignored planning laws).

People can talk sha. Whether it makes sense or not, so far it creats an avenue to hate, they will open their mouth and let out the sound!

Why wld someone jes build withiut the govt approval? Good or not, it's not legal!

This school was featured in an episode of "inside africa" on CNN, the building was designed by a respected Nigerian architect and the materials and execution was sourced from makoko. The school is a masterpiece to say the least !
The building serves as a school and recreation centre for the makoko residents. Too bad it will be demolished. fashola, too bad !