Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
LAGOS, Nigeria — Tens of residents from Mile 12 Central in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly this week to protest after demolition crews razed more than 200 homes in their community, igniting public anger and deep anxiety over forced displacement. The demonstrators, many of whom have lived in the area for decades, accuse state authorities of carrying out the demolitions without prior notice or meaningful consultation, leaving families homeless and demanding answers from Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu’s administration. The protest represents one of the most visible outcries yet against government demolition drives in the megacity.
Residents who spoke with journalists described how the demolition exercise began abruptly, with task force officials and agents from the Lagos State Building Control Agency arriving with bulldozers early this week to begin pulling down houses. According to community members, few were given advance warning, and many only learned of the operation when machinery appeared on their streets. Distressed homeowners said that structures they or their families built and lived in for decades were reduced to rubble within hours, and there has been no official communication on compensation, relocation or the legal justification for the action.
“We saw them with caterpillars, they just started destroying houses,” one homeowner said, lamenting that his sister’s house had already been demolished and that his own property might be next. Protesters carried placards appealing directly to the state governor to stop the demolition and provide explanations, with many claiming that due process had been ignored and that the human cost of the action was being overlooked. Medical emergencies triggered by the distress of the demolitions were reported at the protest, highlighting the emotional toll on vulnerable residents.
The protest reached the corridors of the Lagos State House of Assembly, where lawmakers representing the affected constituencies engaged with community leaders. In response to the demonstrators’ demands, Assembly members pledged to investigate the events surrounding the demolition exercise, insisting that due process should be upheld in any urban enforcement action. Lawmakers said they would summon officials from relevant agencies to explain why the demolitions were carried out without prior public notice and what legal basis underpins the exercise.
Forced demolition and eviction drives have emerged as recurring flashpoints in Lagos in recent years, stoking tensions between authorities and residents of densely populated or long‑established communities. In similar episodes, such as the demolition protests in the Oworonshoki area earlier this year, residents blocked major thoroughfares including the Third Mainland Bridge to press for justice and protections after losing homes, underscoring the broader unease surrounding demolition policy in Africa’s largest city.
Local advocates and community leaders have criticised the lack of transparent engagement by state agencies before enforcement actions, arguing that sudden demolitions disrupt livelihoods, fracture social bonds and leave families facing uncertain futures. “We are homeless; stop the demolition,” some protesters declared, reflecting the profound sense of vulnerability among those affected. Many emphasised that they were willing to engage in dialogue if the government would communicate its plans and provide assurances, but they insisted that bulldozing homes without notice betrayed their trust and denied them legal recourse.
Government authorities traditionally defend demolition operations as necessary enforcement of urban planning and environmental regulations. Lagos State officials have in the past argued that structures built without proper approvals, those encroaching on waterways and drainage paths, or buildings deemed unsafe must be removed to protect public welfare and support orderly development. However, critics note that these policies often disproportionately impact lower‑income residents in informal settlements, where land documentation can be complex and legacy land rights contested.
The Mile 12 protest has drawn the attention of civil society groups and human rights advocates, who argue that while urban planning enforcement may be justified in some cases, it must be balanced with respect for property rights, adequate notice, fair compensation and genuine consultation. Observers say that demolition exercises lacking these safeguards risk undermining public confidence in government institutions and stoking wider social unrest, particularly in a megacity already grappling with housing shortages and rapid population growth.
As the state assembly prepares to hold hearings with officials from the agencies involved, residents of Mile 12 are calling for clear legal documentation justifying the demolitions, transparent communication from the government, compensation for lost property and a concrete plan for relocation. Many families now face the immediate challenge of securing shelter and basic necessities as the demolition order continues, and the protest has sparked broader debate about how Lagos navigates urban development while protecting the rights and dignity of its long‑term residents.
The situation remains fluid, with community leaders urging calm but firm in their demand that authorities address their grievances promptly and fairly. The outcome of the Assembly’s inquiry and any subsequent government response will be closely watched by residents in Mile 12 and other communities across the city that have experienced or fear similar demolition actions in the future.
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