AMNESTY International has declared the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), developed by the Lagos state government for the 2, 252 evicted residents of Badia East, Apapa-Iganmu Local Government, as an ineffective remedy for the human rights violations suffered by the victims as inadequate.

One of the victims and her child

The state government, however, has commenced the disbursement of N284.4 million to 2,252 persons who were affected by the February 23, 2013 demolition of the structures in Badia East.

This came one month after one year the state government pulled down the structures in Iganmu-Alawo and Oke-Eri community.

Amnesty International while making this known over the weekend, said that the RAP developed by the state government failed to recognize the rights of the Badia East victims.

According to Amnesty International, the RAP states its aim of “providing on compassionate grounds, reasonable financial assistance to affected persons whilst also accommodating the terms of the World Bank Operation Policy 4.12 (OP 4.12).”

The International organization lamented that both processes for developing and finalizing the RAP as well as its contents didn’t conform to international human rights law and standards, adding “it fails to comply with the World Bank policy on involuntary resettlement.”

“Contrary to international human rights standards, the RAP was finalised in the absence of genuine consultation with affected people which, among other issues, has resulted in around 350 affected people being excluded from the list of beneficiaries.

“For consultation to be considered genuine and meaningful all affected persons should be able to participate either directly or indirectly through those they elect to be their representatives.

“The compensation amount offered by the Lagos state government is insufficient for finding adequate alternative housing in Lagos state and leaves victims of the Badia East forced eviction little choice but to find housing in other informal settlements thereby risking the possibility of another forced eviction,” it said.

Amnesty International however called on the “Lagos state government and the World Bank to disburse the financial compensation under the RAP only as interim assistance to the Badia East victims and revise the RAP to bring it in line with international human rights law and standards and the World Bank’s policy on involuntary resettlement.

It added “The Lagos state government, as a second tier of government of the Nigerian state, must act consistently with Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights law.

The acceptance of the inadequate RAP by affected people does not rectify its gross defects neither does it make it an effective remedy for gross violation of human rights.”