Makoko, Lagos’ largest slum, is nicknamed the “floating city.” It is located underneath the city’s most heavily traveled bridge, the Third Mainland Bridge. Everyone who crosses the bridge can see the slum. Government officials think it is an eyesore and an embarrassment to the city.
Makoko was established in the 19th century as a fishing village. It has grown a lot since then. Its six distinct villages are presided over by chiefs. Four of the six villages are water-based. The two others are located on land that surrounds the lagoon.
Thousands of small, wooden shacks make up the floating city. The shacks are crowded together in the water. Many are crumbling and patched with tarps. They stand on stilts that have been sunk into the muddy floor of the shallow lagoon. People use dugout canoes to paddle through narrow lanes of water in between homes. Some sell food and household items from their canoes.
There are no waste disposal or sewage systems in Makoko. As many as 15 households share the same latrine. Human waste and garbage are dumped into the lagoon. Residents have no access to running water. Drinking water must be purchased. Vendors obtain the water from boreholes (deep holes dug into the ground) in neighboring towns.
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