Hundreds of landlords and residents in a community within the Ojo area of Lagos State on Thursday staged a protest over an alleged plan by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and other agencies to demolish more than 300 homes for a rail project.
The demonstrators marched through parts of the neighbourhood, carrying placards and calling on Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene. Protesters warned that the proposed demolition could displace tens of thousands of residents and affect homes, places of worship, healthcare facilities, and businesses.
They described the planned exercise as unjust and contrary to due process, alleging intimidation and harassment by officials, as well as disregard for a court order said to have halted the demolition.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the coordinator, Iniobong Offiong, said the affected area comprises four estates with about 315 houses and an estimated population of 20,000 people developed over several decades.
He alleged that government officials, accompanied by security personnel, entered the community in May 2025 under the guise of conducting a census, only to later inform residents that the area had been earmarked for acquisition and demolition.
According to Offiong, authorities justified the move on grounds of overriding public interest, stating that the land was required for a proposed train depot linked to the Lagos rail project.
However, he questioned the rationale behind the decision, noting that a large expanse of land reportedly acquired for the same purpose by a previous administration remains undeveloped.
“We were informed that our homes would be demolished within four months, yet there is already land designated for the depot that has not been utilised. There is no clear justification for extending the project into a fully built community,” he said.
Offiong added that despite petitions to relevant authorities, including the state government, the police, and the Lagos State House of Assembly, the community has yet to receive a concrete response, prompting legal action.
He further disclosed that residents secured an interim injunction from a Federal High Court restraining the demolition, but alleged that the order has not been respected.
