NIGERIA: Residents Protest Demolition, Block Third Mainland Bridge

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

Traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge was brought to a standstill on Monday morning as residents of Oworonshoki staged a protest over the demolition of their houses by the Lagos State Government.

The protesters, who turned out in large numbers, blocked the inward lane leading into the community, accusing the government of carrying out demolitions without proper notice or compensation.

They claimed the exercise had left many families homeless and demanded immediate intervention and accountability.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the residents voiced their frustration over what they described as an unjust action.

The protest, which began at dawn, caused severe gridlock on one of Lagos’s busiest bridges, forcing commuters to seek alternative routes into the Mainland.

Security operatives were later deployed to the scene to disperse the protesters and restore the free flow of traffic.

As of press time, the Lagos State Government had yet to issue an official statement regarding the demolition or the residents’ claims.