Police Fire Teargas At Residents Protesting Demolitions At Lagos Assembly

Police officers used teargas on Wednesday to disperse residents protesting ongoing demolitions at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The protesters had converged at the assembly complex to speak out against demolitions taking place in communities such as Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Otumara and Baba-Ijora.

They accused the state government of carrying out the demolitions without proper engagement, compensation, or plans to resettle those affected.

The demonstration began at the Ikeja under-bridge before the group marched to the House of Assembly.

Many of the protesters carried placards and banners calling for justice and demanding an end to what they described as illegal demolitions across their communities.

Some of the inscription includes ‘Justice for Ago Egun’, ‘Governor Sanwo-Olu, Save Ajegunle People from Oba Ojora’, ‘Justice for Owode Onirin Traders’, and ‘Halt the Demolitions, It is illegal’.

On arrival at the assembly complex, police officers blocked the entrance with patrol vehicles, preventing the protesters from gaining access.

The demonstrators, however, insisted on entering the premises to use the protest podium in the complex.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, who was at the scene, said the police would not allow entry in order to avoid the protest being taken over by hoodlums.

An activist, Hassan Soweto, challenged this position, reminding the police commissioner that members of the Nigeria Labour Congress were previously allowed into the complex during a protest on December 17, 2025.

Shortly after, three lawmakers from the Lagos State House of Assembly came out to address the crowd.

Their appearance was met with loud boos, as the protesters demanded unrestricted access into the complex.

Tensions rose, and the lawmakers eventually walked away amid continued jeers before police officers began firing teargas to disperse the crowd.

The teargas affected both protesters and journalists covering the event, while some demonstrators were arrested by the police.

See some photos below:

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