Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode, has made no bones about the fact that he intends to turn Lagos into a modern mega city. And he’s kept his word, what with the demolition of shanties, illegal structures, Agege and other areas sporting street lights, the soon-to-be-disappearance of danfo buses etc.

In order to achieve this wholesome facelift, the government is targeting waterfront communities too. On the 17th of March, it was gathered that the Lagos state government, in defiance of a court order, went ahead with forced evictions of the occupiers of the waterfront community- Otodo Gbame.

Otodo Gbame is in the news again. The Lagos state government is attempting to explain why thousand of settlers in the community are now homeless.

Co-founder of Transparency International, Oby Ezekwesili wants Akinwunmi Ambode to resolve the situation by dialogue before it blows up in the government’s face. Do see below:

.@AkinwunmiAmbode ??????pls engage the affected community and by Dialogue resolve this. Better to urgently tackle than allow to linger. https://t.co/TTPXpoSefp

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

This timeline of events in #OtodoGbame can help clarify high level of @followlasg impunity @Gidi_Traffic @obyezeks @ogundamisi @ayosogunro pic.twitter.com/xbOumxEkQN

— JEI | #OtodoGbame (@justempower) March 22, 2017

A key part of my work as then VP of World Bank i/co Africa Region was to ensure that Project Affected Communities were treated with Dignity.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

Sometimes, however hard we tried, we still fell short in the eyes of Project Affected People. In such instances, they still had a RECOURSE.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

The RECOURSE of any disaffected Project Affected People was to register a complaint against us with the Bank's Independent Inspection Panel.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

Once the Panel reviewed & ruled that our team had violated Bank Policy/Procedure for handling Project Affected People, we'd FACE THE PANEL.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

You see, the hassles of going before the Independent Inspection Panel was so multi-dimensionally costly; that our Team did BEST TO AVOID IT.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

The high probability of being caned by the Inspection Panel was a DISINCENTIVE to our Project Teams in handling Project Affected People.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

At both our Federal, State and Local Govt levels, we need to institute a similar mechanism to PROTECT the RIGHT of Project Affected People.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

At both our Federal, State and Local Govt levels, we need to institute a similar mechanism to PROTECT the RIGHT of Project Affected People.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

1. Social Inclusion Policy/Procedures
2. Independent Review Process
3. Grievance Arbitration Process
4. Judicial Process
are all needed.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

Mistakes have already been made but it does not have to continue. Govt & financiers of development have to ensure communities are protected.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

Only last night I was saying to my husband that our country sadly does poorly in learning from past experiences. WE REPEAT MISTAKES ALWAYS.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

It would be a BIG SHAME if #OtodoGbame is repeated all over again in handling the rest of the waterfront occupiers. LEARN. ALWAYS. It helps.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 22, 2017

Thank you.