A major traffic gridlock gripped Lagos on Monday after residents of Oworonshoki blocked a section of the Third Mainland Bridge.
The protest erupted just two days after the Lagos State Government demolished several buildings along the Iyana Oworonshoki coastal line.
Hundreds of demonstrators, including women and children, stormed the outbound section of the bridge early in the morning.
They demanded compensation, resettlement, and an immediate stop to further demolitions.
The protest disrupted traffic for hours, leaving motorists stranded and forcing commuters to divert to alternative routes.
Eyewitnesses described the demonstration as peaceful but emotionally charged.
Many commuters abandoned their vehicles, while frustrated Lagosians took to social media to vent.
Placards carried by protesters accused the government of ignoring due process and displacing families without providing alternatives.
According to residents of Ojulari Community, officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), supported by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), arrived around midnight on Saturday with bulldozers.
They alleged that security forces used tear gas before briefly allowing families to retrieve belongings.
“They came at night with bulldozers and security men. Many of us were left homeless without any alternatives,” one protester said.
Community leaders argued that some of the demolished structures had stood for decades without challenge.
Others accused the state of acting without proper compensation, leaving displaced residents to seek shelter in churches, abandoned houses, and makeshift tents.
The Lagos State Government maintained that the affected structures were illegal and posed safety risks.
Officials said residents had been served a one-month quit notice but refused to vacate.
According to the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, the exercise was part of efforts to clear flood-prone areas, curb illegal sand dredging, and dismantle suspected criminal hideouts.
Officials noted that unchecked dredging was removing over 10,000 cubic metres of sand daily, threatening lagoon ecosystems and waterfront settlements.
Commissioner Dayo Alebiosu linked the operation to the upcoming Lagos State Waterfront Summit scheduled for September 11.
“The summit will focus on illegal dredging, coastal erosion, and the growing pressure on Lagos waterfronts,” he explained.
The protest triggered massive congestion on one of Lagos’ busiest routes.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) reported that the logjam began to ease by late afternoon.
By 5:48 p.m., police confirmed calm had been restored after Commissioner Olohundare Jimoh personally visited the scene.
“Calm has been fully restored on 3rd Mainland Bridge after the swift intervention of CP Olohundare Jimoh,” police spokesperson Babaseyi Oluseyi posted on X, assuring that traffic flow had resumed.
Though officials later suspended the demolitions in Oworonshoki for two weeks, hundreds remain displaced.
Many residents insist they will not leave until government provides fair compensation and resettlement options.
Meanwhile, in Lekki, enforcement continued as shanties allegedly harbouring miscreants and violating environmental standards were cleared.
There should at least be a compensation. Displacing people will cause more problems