Protest Erupts in Lagos Over Hunger, Demolitions and ‘Anti-Poor Policies’

Hundreds of angry protesters flooded the streets of Lagos on Friday, voicing outrage over the rising cost of living and the demolition of buildings in the Oworonshoki area.

The demonstrators, mobilised by the Take It Back Movement alongside several civil society groups, marched from Ikeja Bridge to Alausa, the seat of the Lagos State Government, demanding an end to what they described as “anti-poor policies.”

By 7:30 a.m., protesters had gathered at Ikeja Bridge, displaying placards with inscriptions such as “Stop the Demolitions,” “End Hunger Now,” and “Government Should Protect the Poor.”

According to the groups, the ongoing demolition exercise in Oworonshoki has displaced hundreds of families, worsening economic hardship for many who already struggle to survive the country’s soaring inflation and food crisis.

Eyewitnesses said the protesters, numbering in their hundreds, marched peacefully but with fiery chants calling for immediate government intervention.

Security operatives, including police officers and personnel of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), were stationed along major routes to maintain order and prevent any breakdown of law and order.

As of press time, the demonstrators had arrived at the Lagos State Secretariat in Alausa, demanding an audience with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu or a representative of his administration to table their grievances.

The protest underscores growing public anger in Nigeria’s commercial hub, where many residents say they can no longer afford food, rent, or transport fares amid harsh economic realities.