Operatives of the Lagos state police command on Wednesday fired teargas at protesting residents at the Lagos State House of Assembly complex over ongoing demolitions in several communities.
The protesters had gathered at the assembly complex to express their dissatisfaction over demolitions across Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Baba-Ijora.
The residents also alleged the state government of carrying out the exercises without adequate consultation, compensation or resettlement plans.
The 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”.
On reaching the Assembly complex, police officers blocked the entrance with patrol vehicles to prevent the protesters from gaining access. However, the demonstrators insisted on entering the premises, demanding access to the protest podium within the complex.
The Lagos commissioner of police, Jimoh Momoh, who was at the scene, said the police would not allow the protesters into the complex in order to “prevent hoodlums from hijacking the demonstration”.
In response, activist Hassan Soweto reminded the police chief that members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had been allowed into the assembly complex during the December 17, 2025 protest over insecurity.
Moments later, three lawmakers from the Lagos State House of Assembly stepped out to address the protesters, but they were booed as the crowd demanded unrestricted access to the complex. After heated exchanges, the lawmakers withdrew amid loud protests.
Shortly after their departure, police officers fired teargas canisters at the demonstrators. Journalists covering the protest were also affected, while some protesters were arrested.
Lagos has recently witnessed multiple demolition exercises in communities such as Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Baba-Ijora.
In December 2025, the Lagos State Government began demolitions in Makoko, a waterfront settlement on the Lagos Lagoon. Residents accused the government of breaching an earlier agreement that only buildings within the 30-metre safety setback from high-tension power lines would be removed.
On January 22, the Coalition Against Demolitions, Forced Evictions, Land Grabbing and Displacements in Lagos claimed that 12 people had died and thousands displaced as a result of the demolitions.
The coalition further alleged that the exercise was aimed at “clear[ing] valuable land for elite interests and private mega-developments, with little or no notice, consultation, compensation or resettlement plan”.
