Police officers on Wednesday fired tear gas to disperse protesters who converged on the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja, to demand an end to what they described as forced evictions and widespread demolitions across the state.
The protest, which took place at the Alausa legislative complex, temporarily disrupted traffic and commercial activities in the area as residents, traders and commuters fled the scene amid panic.
Lagos Eye News reports that movement around the Assembly complex was severely restricted for several hours following the incident.
The demonstrators said they were protesting demolitions affecting several waterfront and inner-city communities, including Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Baba-Ijora. They alleged that thousands of residents have been displaced without adequate notice, compensation or resettlement plans.
Security operatives remained stationed at the complex after the crowd was dispersed, as tensions continued to rise over allegations of land grabbing and the demolition of homes in different parts of Lagos.
Speaking to Lagos Eye News, some protesters accused the state government of carrying out demolition exercises without meaningful consultation with affected communities. They said many families have been rendered homeless with little or no support.
Journalists covering the protest were also affected by the tear gas, while several demonstrators were reportedly arrested by police officers during the operation.
Human rights organisations and civil society groups have raised concerns over the demolitions. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), alongside other advocacy groups, has previously warned that forced evictions could deepen poverty and worsen housing insecurity in Africa’s most populous city.
Police authorities, however, defended their actions, saying the deployment of tear gas was necessary to prevent a breakdown of law and order. They urged aggrieved residents to channel their complaints through lawful and peaceful means.
The Lagos State Government has consistently maintained that demolition exercises are carried out in accordance with existing laws. Officials say some of the actions are justified on safety, environmental or infrastructure grounds and insist that affected residents are given adequate notice—claims that community leaders and residents continue to dispute.
