In the Ago Egun Bariga area of Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, there is no road, no electricity, no running water and no rubbish collection.

Now that high grass has blocked access to the water, there is no work either.

The people of Ago Egun Bariga have made a living from fishing ever since their families first settled on the edge of the lagoon more than 50 years ago.

At the time, local chief Agemo Akapo’s grandfather lived comfortably surrounded by the tropical vegetation.

But as urbanisation gathered pace at breakneck speed, Lagos’ population mushroomed from 300,000 people in 1950 to some 20 million today — and the trees disappeared.

In their place are makeshift shanties as far as the eye can see.

“We would like to have electricity, schools, hospitals, running water,” said Agemo Akapo.

“But this is not our number one priority. They need to open access to the sea again, so that we can go to work, buy food and feed our children.”

He added: “We live like doves in a cage.”

The Lagos state government has filled in vast stretches of the water with sand to build much-needed homes, contributing to major changes to the local ecosystem.

As a result, the fishing boats of Ago Egun have lain idle in the mud for the last two years among the detritus of daily life.