Residents of Oworonshoki, Lagos, have taken to the streets in anger following the ongoing demolition of their homes by the state government. On Sunday, protesters blocked the 3rd Mainland Bridge axis, vowing not to leave until all bulldozers were removed from their communities and the demolition exercise was halted.
The demonstrators, many armed with placards and chanting solidarity songs, accused the Lagos State Government of rendering thousands homeless. “We will take back Oworonshoki,” they declared.
The Oworo Youths Forum (OYF) condemned the demolition, describing it as a “crime against humanity.” In a statement signed by Secretary Opeyemi Ogunlami and PRO Towolawi Jamiu, the group alleged that the demolition was part of a broader campaign to displace residents.
According to OYF, the demolition began in the early hours of September 6, 2025, continuing a process that started in July 2023. Since then, over 1,000 homes have been destroyed, leaving more than 30,000 people homeless, including women and children.
“This barbaric act shows the wickedness of the ruling APC government in Lagos,” the statement read. “They stormed into people’s homes in the middle of the night, even firing tear gas at those recording the incident. The goal is clear: displace the poor to make way for the wealthy.”
The group alleged that the state plans to convert Oworonshoki into a luxury estate, citing billboard advertisements for an “Elite Villa Estate” with plots starting at ₦60 million.
OYF demanded an immediate stop to the demolition, urging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to provide compensation and resettlement for victims. “Housing is a fundamental human right. Stop making Lagosians homeless overnight,” the group said.
However, government officials defended the demolition. Gbolahan Owodunni, Permanent Secretary in the Office of Urban Development, insisted residents were given ample time to regularize their properties.
“We gave you over three years. We even made announcements for one year on Wazobia FM in English and Yoruba, but no one came. Only one person regularized their property,” Owodunni said.
He criticized residents for relying on survey plans without proper approval and accused NGOs of offering “false hope.” “We want development, but things must be done the right way. Is this how America or London is? Yet, people here refuse to follow due process,” he added.
The standoff continues as residents resist eviction and demand justice, while the government insists the demolition is a necessary step for urban development.
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