Nigeria, Feb. 18 -- In Lagos, the demolition of informal settlements - often without adequate consultation, notice or resettlement - has turned the promise of 'housing for all' into a tale of loss, displacement and deepening urban poverty.

One of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals is to upgrade slums and informal settlements by 2030.

The emphasis is on securing tenure, preventing forced evictions, improving access to water and sanitation, and ensuring dignified living conditions.

But ongoing state evictions of informal waterfront communities in Makoko, the world's largest floating settlement, often called the 'Venice of Nigeria' - threaten lives and livelihoods, and exacerbate crime and humanitarian crises in Lagos....