Measuring the socio–economic impact of forced evictions and illegal demolition; A comparative study between displaced and existing informal settlements

Abstract

Slum formation and settlement globally are an indication of either a housing deficit or unaffordable cost of formal housing. However, in emerging nations, while the urban poor resolves to slum formation and settlement the government more often takes drastic measure that renders such population into extreme vulnerabilities. The informal settler who often engage in informal economic activities is major drivers of informal economies. In this study, we investigate the impact of forced evictions from a socio–economic perspective by comparing former income earning households of a demolished slum to households in three existing slum communities. As well as investigating the dominant factors prompting slum formations and settlements in two of the three communities which are emerging communities. Primarily, our focus was to map household income and ascertain fatalities post-eviction. Secondarily, we intend to profile the households in emerging communities to ascertain factors prompting slum formation and settlements in Lagos, Nigeria. We conclude that evictions are both a cause and consequence of poverty which is in itself a contributing factor to slum proliferation. We outline a few interventions in cases of unavoidable demolition and suggest the need to domesticate International Treaties in the protection of informal dwellers among other things.