Lagos Residents Protest Threatened Demolition of 300+ Homes Over Rail Project
Story: written by Joseph March 20,2026
Hundreds of residents and landlords in a community in Ojo, Lagos staged a protest on Thursday against plans by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and associated agencies to demolish over 300 houses for a proposed rail project.
The protesters marched through the neighbourhood holding placards appealing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene. Many signs warned that the demolition could displace tens of thousands of residents and disrupt homes, businesses, healthcare facilities, and places of worship.
Speaking for the community, coordinator Iniobong Offiong said the affected area spans four estates, comprising roughly 315 homes and around 20,000 residents, built over several decades. He claimed that government officials, accompanied by security personnel, first entered the community in May 2025 under the pretext of a census, later notifying residents that their land had been earmarked for demolition to accommodate a train depot for the Lagos rail project.
Offiong questioned the rationale, noting that a large piece of land previously acquired for the same project remains unused. “We were told our homes would be pulled down within four months, yet there is already a vast parcel of land for the depot that hasn’t been developed. There is no clear reason for targeting an occupied community,” he said.
Despite petitions to the state government, police, and Lagos State House of Assembly, residents say they have received no substantive response, prompting legal action. Offiong revealed that an interim injunction from the Federal High Court restraining demolition has allegedly been ignored. “Officials continue to enter with security personnel, surveying and collecting data on private properties, disregarding the court order,” he added.
Residents further allege attempts to weaken opposition, including offering inducements for tenants to leave and disrupting electricity supply. A 75-year-old retiree described the situation as “distressing,” noting that many occupants have no alternative housing. Vulnerable groups, including widows, the elderly, and children, are particularly at risk, and at least one resident reportedly died from anxiety caused by the uncertainty.
Physical planning officials reportedly confirmed the area is largely occupied, challenging claims that the land is mostly vacant. A proposed mediation meeting with LAMATA representatives reportedly did not take place as officials failed to attend.
The community is urging the state government to suspend the demolition plans and stick to the original rail project layout, which would avoid displacing residents. They are also calling on civil society and the media to spotlight their plight and prevent what they describe as an unlawful seizure of their properties.
