Taiwo POPOOLA
Inhabitants, Community Leaders,, and Displaced Residents On wednesday Converge on the street, specifically under the Ikeja-Bridge area of Lagos, to protest the ongoing demolitions and alleged forced evictions in waterfront and low-income communities, including Makoko, Owode Onirin and Oworonshoki.
The protesters accused the Lagos State Government of carrying out demolitions without adequate notice, compensation or resettlement plans for affected residents.
Checks reveal the demonstrators occupied strategic sections of the under-bridge, drawing the attention of commuters and motorists plying the busy Ikeja axis.
They were seen carrying banners and placards with bold inscriptions such as “Stop Forced Evictions Now,” “Makoko Lives Matter,” “Demolition Without Resettlement Is Injustice,” “Urban Renewal, Not Urban Removal,” “Homes Not Rubble,” and “Housing Is a Human Right.”
Other placards read “Where Do You Want the Poor to Go?” “Lagos Is for All, Not the Rich Alone,” “Respect Court Orders,” and “Development Without Displacement.”
Some protesters also displayed photographs showing demolished homes and displaced families, while others held placards bearing images of children and elderly persons allegedly affected by the demolitions.
Chanting solidarity songs and slogans, the protesters repeatedly called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to halt further demolitions and engage affected communities in dialogue. Popular chants included “No Justice, No Peace,” “Makoko Is Not a Slum,” and “Consult the People.”
Speaking to journalists at the scene, some of the activists described the demolitions as inhumane and contrary to existing court rulings restraining forced evictions in waterfront communities.
They alleged that many residents were rendered homeless overnight, with families forced to sleep in canoes, under bridges and open spaces following the demolition of their homes.
According to the protesters, communities such as Makoko, Owode Onirin and Oworonshoki have existed for decades and should be upgraded through proper urban planning rather than destroyed.
The protesters vowed to sustain the demonstrations until the government addresses their demands, including the suspension of demolitions.
