By Peter Omopo
September 11, 2025 — The Lagos State Government has defended the demolition of structures in Oworonshoki, insisting that the exercise followed due process and was preceded by years of stakeholder engagement.
The demolition, carried out on Saturday, sparked protests on Monday as displaced residents blocked the Third Mainland Bridge, demanding compensation and an immediate halt to the exercise.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban and Regional Development, Gbolahan Oki, said the affected structures were dilapidated, unapproved, and a security risk.
“We don’t just go to demolish; due process was followed. The buildings demolished were cracked, they only painted them to look good. People also complained that those who rob on the Third Mainland Bridge run back to the shanties,” Oki said.
He added that the state was also set to begin clearance of illegal structures in the Makoko community, particularly those erected under high-tension power lines and along the waterfront.
“We have held several meetings with people living in Makoko. Many of the shanties are under high-tension cables and are even extending towards the Third Mainland Bridge. If anything happens, the blame will fall on government. The lives of the people are more important,” Oki stressed.
However, residents of Oworonshoki have condemned the demolition, describing it as unfair and targeted.
One protest leader, Ayoyinka Oni, dismissed the demolition notice as “illegal,” accusing the government of trying to displace low-income families to make way for wealthy elites.
“About 80 per cent of buildings in Lekki don’t have permits, and more than 60 per cent nationwide are unapproved. Is the government going to pull them all down? This is a community the government abandoned for decades. Now that it has shown prospects, elites want to turn it into an exclusive estate,” Oni argued.
Another resident, Ismail Ogunsola, demanded compensation and resettlement plans for those displaced.
“The issue is not just permits. What alternatives are there for thousands of residents who have lost their homes? We are Lagosians too and deserve decent living. Governance must be inclusive,” he said.
The demolition in Oworonshoki comes amid the state’s broader urban renewal and enforcement drive, which officials say is aimed at ensuring safety, curbing unregulated construction, and restoring order around critical infrastructure.
