The Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday deployed teargas to disperse residents protesting at the State House of Assembly complex.
The protesters assembled at the complex to condemn demolition exercises affecting Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Baba-Ijora.
They accused the Lagos State Government of carrying out the demolitions without proper engagement with affected communities.
According to them, the exercises were conducted without adequate compensation for residents.
They also alleged the absence of clear resettlement plans for those displaced by the demolitions.
The demonstration began at the Ikeja under-bridge before moving to the assembly complex.
Protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Justice for Ago Egun’, ‘Governor Sanwo-Olu, Save Ajegunle People from Oba Ojora’, ‘Justice for Owode Onirin Traders’, and ‘Halt the Demolitions, It is illegal’.
The police had barricaded the assembly entrance with vehicles to prevent the protesters from entering the complex.
Moshood Jimoh, commissioner of police in Lagos, said the barricade was to “prevent hoodlums from hijacking the demonstration”.
Hassan Soweto, activist, reminded the commissioner that members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) were allowed entry during the December 17, 2025 protest over rising insecurity.
Three lawmakers eventually came out to address the protesters but were booed, with demonstrators insisting on entering the complex.
The legislators left amid jeers, and police subsequently fired teargas at the crowd.
Journalists covering the protest were affected by the teargas, while some protesters were arrested.
Recently, Lagos has witnessed multiple demolition exercises in waterfront and informal communities including Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Baba-Ijora.
In December 2025, the government began demolishing structures in Makoko, despite community claims that only buildings within the 30-metre safety setback from high-tension power lines were to be affected.
On January 22, the Coalition Against Demolitions, Forced Evictions, Land Grabbing and Displacements in Lagos reported 12 deaths and thousands displaced due to the recent demolitions.
The coalition alleged the demolitions aimed to “clear valuable land for elite interests and private mega-developments, with little or no notice, consultation, compensation or resettlement plan”.
