By: Manoah Kikekon
LAGOS, NIGERIA – The Society for Human Advancement and Creativity Organisation (SHACO) has launched a scathing critique against the Lagos State House of Assembly, accusing lawmakers of "bureaucratic apathy" following the violent dispersal of peaceful protesters at the Alausa complex on Wednesday.
The human rights group’s response comes in the wake of a controversial rejoinder from the Assembly, which attempted to justify the heavy-handed police presence by citing a legislative recess. SHACO’s President, Amb. Mark Akande, dismissed the defense as a cold-hearted evasion of duty, sparking a fresh wave of calls for government accountability amidst ongoing city-wide demolitions.
In a strongly worded statement, SHACO argued that the legislative "recess" is a luxury that the displaced residents of Makoko, Oworonshoki, and Owode Onirin simply cannot afford. While lawmakers are away from their chambers, bulldozers continue to level homes, leaving thousands of families exposed to the elements.
"Governance is a 24-hour contract," stated Amb. Mark Akande. "A 'recess' does not absolve the legislature of its duty to intervene when the Executive branch oversteps its bounds and renders thousands homeless. You cannot put human rights on pause for a holiday."
SHACO further debunked claims that protesters rejected a peaceful dialogue. The organization maintained that any offer of conversation made through locked gates and a wall of armed police officers is not an engagement, but an act of intimidation.
The group noted that the "People’s House" should never be locked against the citizens who fund it. According to SHACO, the demand to enter the Assembly was a legitimate quest for accountability that was met with state-sponsored hostility rather than a genuine seat at the table.
A major point of contention remains the detention of prominent activist **Hassan Taiwo Soweto**. The Assembly had previously characterized Soweto’s advocacy as "hostile," a label SHACO dismisses as a "tone-policing" tactic designed to distract from the core issue of homelessness.
"When a man speaks for mothers who have lost their shelter and children sleeping in the rain, his language will be sharp," Akande defended. "To prioritize 'polite speech' over the 'violence of homelessness' shows a disturbing disconnect from reality."
The organization also accused lawmakers of "complicity by omission." While the Assembly denied ordering the use of teargas, SHACO claims that lawmakers watched from a distance as the Commissioner of Police (CP) unleashed violence on the crowd. By failing to command the CP to stand down, SHACO asserts the Assembly effectively abdicated its authority to the police.
Furthermore, the group has flatly rejected the Assembly’s denial regarding the use of live ammunition. SHACO reports they have received credible evidence of injuries that far exceed the effects of standard teargas, prompting a call for an immediate forensic investigation.
To resolve the escalating crisis, SHACO has issued a list of non-negotiable demands to the Lagos State Government, The unconditional freedom of Hassan Taiwo Soweto and all detained community members. An immediate end to the legislative recess to address the waterfront demolitions. A shift toward urban renewal projects that provide resettlement and housing before any demolition occurs.