Lagos Government Demolition defended as due process in Oworonshoki; Makoko shanties under high-tension cables are next, sparking residents’ backlash

Lagos Government Demolition of buildings in Oworonshoki has triggered protests and accusations of injustice, even as officials insist due process was followed and warned that Makoko would be next in line for clearance.

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On Saturday, residents of Oworonshoki woke up to bulldozers tearing down structures described by the state as illegal and unsafe.

By Monday, aggrieved occupants trooped out to protest, blocking the Third Mainland Bridge to demand compensation and a halt to further demolition.

Addressing the controversy at a press briefing on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban and Regional Development, Gbolahan Oki, stressed that the exercise was neither sudden nor unlawful.

“We don’t just go to demolish; due process was followed. The buildings demolished were dilapidated and cracked, they only painted them. People also complained that those who rob on the Third Mainland Bridge run back to the shanties,” he explained.

Oki revealed that the state has already set its sights on Makoko, where illegal structures sit dangerously under high-tension power lines.

> “We have told them to move, but they refused. They are even extending to the middle of the Third Mainland Bridge. If those cables fall, people will blame the government. Lives are more important,” he added.

But for many residents, the government’s explanation falls short.

Community leader Ayoyinka Oni condemned the action, calling it an “illegal notice.” He argued that Oworonshoki was long neglected until it became valuable, alleging elite interests were behind the clearances.

“About 80 per cent of buildings in Lekki don’t have permits. Over 60 per cent in Nigeria don’t. Is the government going to pull them all down? This is about pushing poor people out to make way for the rich,” Oni said.

Another resident, Ismail Ogunsola, demanded alternatives and compensation for displaced families.

“It’s not just about permits. Where are the affordable houses for thousands of people now homeless? Governance must be inclusive,” he stressed.

The demolition has reignited the debate over Lagos’ urban renewal agenda — balancing safety and order against the rights of long-standing communities.

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For now, displaced families in Oworonshoki remain in limbo, while Makoko braces for what could be another wave of bulldozers.