Stakeholders in Nigeria’s real estate sector have condemned the demolition of about 50 buildings in a Lagos community by suspected land grabbers popularly known as Omo Onile.

The incident occurred in the Surulere community of Amikanle, near the Command area in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, leaving several homeowners counting heavy losses.

Residents said the suspected thugs invaded the area on January 27, 2026, demanding payments ranging from N15 million to N25 million from property owners.

According to eyewitness accounts, houses belonging to residents who failed to meet the demands were subsequently demolished.

Real estate stakeholders react

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oikus, Israel Ihaza, condemned the action and called for greater transparency, structure and proper documentation in the real estate sector.

He described the incident as disturbing and harmful to the credibility of the property market in Lagos.

“It’s sad how some individuals continue to bastardise government authority and existing regulatory structures to carry out illegal activities. Incidents like this are deeply troubling for everyone who believes in the rule of law and the future of real estate in Lagos,” Ihaza said.

He explained that unclear ownership records, weak enforcement and fragmented property visibility often create opportunities for such abuses.

Calls for stronger regulation

Ihaza noted that the government is working toward strengthening systems within the sector through digital oversight and regulatory enforcement.

He added that efforts are ongoing to professionalise the real estate sector, digitise land records and improve accountability across the property value chain.

According to him, the persistent activities of Omo Onile have remained a structural challenge within the Lagos property market for years.

He stressed that the demolition of residential buildings has severe consequences beyond the physical structures.

“When a house is demolished, the loss goes far beyond bricks and mortar. It involves life savings, retirement plans, children’s education and family stability,” he said.

Legal concerns and financial losses

Also speaking, legal counsel to the Project Affected Persons within the 150-metre setback of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sola Enitan, said demolition has increasingly become a method of extortion in parts of Nigeria, particularly in Lagos.

He urged affected homeowners to pursue legal action and defend their property rights.

Enitan estimated that the financial impact of such demolitions has been enormous.

According to him, at least 52 demolished buildings valued at about N50 million each would amount to roughly N2.6 billion in losses.

He warned that such incidents could discourage investors and developers from committing funds to housing projects.

Real estate analysts say the continued activities of land grabbers pose a serious threat to housing development and investor confidence in Lagos State.

The post Suspected Omo Onile Demolish 50 Buildings in Lagos, Stakeholders Raise Alarm appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has officially halted demolitions in Makoko and Shogunle, directing a structured two-week reconciliation process to address issues arising from previous clearance operations. The move is aimed at fostering dialogue with affected residents and ensuring sustainable urban development along the Third Mainland Bridge corridor.

During a committee meeting with local leaders, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, represented by Majority Leader Noheem Adams, reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to reconciliation, emphasizing the inclusion of women, youths, students, and traditional leaders in community committees. These committees are tasked with facilitating effective communication, resolving disputes, and ensuring residents comply with the new regulations.

The Assembly adopted recommendations from the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on E-GIS, Dr Olajide Babatunde, which include the establishment of a 250-metre setback from the Third Mainland Bridge and an additional 250-metre buffer beyond the power line corridor. All forms of development are now prohibited within these designated zones to safeguard public safety and environmental standards.

Lagos community leaders and residents have welcomed the directive, with the Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Bayo Adefuye, acknowledging the efforts of both the state and local governments. Relief materials and palliatives have already been distributed to residents affected by earlier demolitions, providing immediate support while the reconciliation process proceeds.

The Assembly emphasized that the two-week timeline is critical for ensuring a lasting resolution. Committees are expected to submit progress reports regularly, while the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the E-GIS Office will continue monitoring compliance with the buffer zones.

Lagos Assembly’s halt on demolitions in Makoko and Shogunle marks a shift towards community-inclusive urban planning. The state government has reiterated that any attempts to bypass the buffer zones or engage in unauthorized construction will result in legal actions.

The decision highlights Lagos State’s commitment to environmental safety, sustainable urban development, and social cohesion, balancing infrastructure growth with community needs. Residents are urged to cooperate fully with the committees and respect regulations to ensure a smooth reconciliation process.

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The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), has demolished shanties and evicted illegal occupants along the Ajao Estate section of the Mass Burial Canal in Lagos.

The enforcement operation followed intelligence reports and petitions from community leaders alleging environmental violations and the erection of makeshift structures along the canal banks. Officials said the illegal settlements posed environmental and public health risks, particularly by obstructing drainage channels.

Head of the Public Affairs and Advocacy Unit, Mr Ajayi Lukman, explained that authorities had issued multiple warnings prior to the demolition exercise.

“We carried out the exercise following petitions written by community leaders about makeshift structures built in the area. We have warned those found there several times but they continued their activities,” he said.

After clearing the site, enforcement officers set the dismantled structures ablaze and announced plans to closely monitor the area to prevent reoccupation. The agency warned that violators would face prosecution under Lagos environmental laws.

Speaking separately, the Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), emphasised the need for sustained environmental enforcement to make Lagos safer and more conducive for business and residential living.

He made the remarks during a one-day management retreat for senior officers and operatives themed “Leading the Change, Building Collaborations Towards Environmental Safety and Awareness.” The retreat featured strategy sessions and group presentations aimed at improving teamwork and operational efficiency.

Dr Adeyeye Mayowa, Head of the Environmental Services Unit, delivered a presentation on strengthening inter-agency collaboration and intelligence gathering to enhance service delivery and enforcement outcomes.

Cole urged officers to maintain professionalism, discipline, and healthy work practices in the discharge of their duties, stressing that effective monitoring and enforcement are critical to environmental sustainability in Lagos.

The demolition underscores the state government’s renewed push to enforce environmental regulations, clear illegal structures from drainage channels, and prevent flooding and sanitation challenges across vulnerable communities.

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Residents and homeowners in Surulere Community, Amikanle, within Alimosho Local Council Area of Lagos, have raised alarm over the demolition of their properties, accusing suspected land grabbers of acting with police backing.

According to the residents, no fewer than 70 structures, including residential buildings, shops and perimeter fences, were pulled down during an enforcement exercise linked to Suit No: ID/732M/2010 between the Federal Housing Authority and Nurudeen Adewale & Bros (Nig) Ltd.

Some landlords claimed they were asked to pay as much as N55 million, while others were reportedly given demands of N30 million or N15 million.

Eyewitnesses said about 300 men stormed the community, presenting documents said to be from the housing authority authorising them to collect payments for property renewal. Residents alleged that those who failed to meet the payment demands saw their homes demolished.

Chairman of the Surulere Estate Community Development Area, Semiu Oladejo, accused officers from Zone 2 of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Taskforce of supervising the exercise.

“They came with around 300 hoodlums. The Nigeria Police should not give protection to thugs and land grabbers. Officers from Zone 2 and the Taskforce watched our properties being destroyed,” he said.

Other residents described continued harassment. One affected resident, identified as Oluwafewa, said security operatives accompanied the alleged thugs for about two weeks.

He claimed the group demanded that landlords purchase a N100,000 form, pay an initial N5 million, and clear the balance within two weeks, with different payment amounts assigned to different houses.

Another resident said similar incidents had occurred in the past, alleging that a relative lost his property a decade ago after failing to meet such demands.

Responding to the allegations, Zone 2 Police spokesperson, Afolayan Gbenga, denied that officers worked with thugs, stating that police presence was only to enforce a court order.

“It is not possible that officers went with thugs; we don’t use thugs,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Southwest Zonal Manager of the Federal Housing Authority, Rekiya Sani, wrote to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, stating that the demolition carried out on January 27, 2026, at the FHA Estate in Abesan, Surulere, was done without the authority’s approval.

She noted that although the judgment was in favour of the agency, the execution supervised by the Lagos State Task Force was carried out without its knowledge and requested the immediate withdrawal of task force personnel from the estate.

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Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has raised concerns over the conduct of security operatives during a recent protest against alleged illegal demolitions and forced evictions in the Makoko waterfront area of Lagos State, accusing the police of deploying expired tear gas canisters on demonstrators.

Falana spoke at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, where he visited protesters who sustained injuries during the demonstration organised by activists Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto, and Dele Frank. The protest was aimed at drawing the attention of the Lagos State government to demolitions affecting waterfront communities.

The demonstration was initially peaceful but later turned chaotic after police operatives reportedly fired tear gas at close range, leading to injuries among protesters. The incident has drawn criticism from human rights organisations and civil society groups.

Reacting to the injuries observed at the hospital, Falana described the police action as unconstitutional and dangerous, stating that the nature of the injuries raised questions about the safety of the tear gas canisters used.

In over four decades of participating in protests across the country, Falana said he had never seen tear gas cause such severe injuries, adding that the effects observed were unusual and alarming.

At LASUTH, a burns and plastic surgery nurse, Adedeji Hassan, briefed Falana on the condition of one of the injured protesters, Kafayat Muftaudeen. He disclosed that Muftaudeen sustained a serious leg injury but was fit to be discharged and would continue treatment through regular wound dressing and weekly hospital visits before undergoing skin grafting.

Falana stressed that the 1999 Constitution guarantees Nigerians the right to peaceful assembly and expression, noting that protest organisers are only required to notify the police, not seek permission. He added that the Police Establishment Act places a duty on the police to provide protection during lawful protests.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State government has defended the demolition of structures in parts of Makoko, stating that the exercise was carried out to protect lives and prevent potential disasters.

Speaking at a joint ministerial press briefing in Alausa, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said many of the wooden buildings affected were erected directly beneath high-tension power lines, posing serious risks to occupants.

Also speaking, the Governor’s Special Adviser on E-GIS and Urban Development, Babatunde Olajide, explained that the demolition formed part of a long-term safety and redevelopment plan. He added that only structures within high-tension corridors were removed and assured that displaced residents would be compensated following ongoing enumeration.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has also summoned leaders and stakeholders from Makoko and adjoining waterfront communities to a meeting following petitions submitted over the demolition and eviction of residents. The engagement is expected to provide a platform for dialogue and resolution.

In a separate reaction, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights condemned the alleged use of force against protesters and called for independent investigations into reported killings and demolitions linked to enforcement actions across Lagos State.

The group said peaceful protest remains a constitutional right and urged authorities to pursue justice, compensation, and restoration for affected communities.

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In  a coordinated effort between federal and state authorities, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has mobilized the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to carry out a controlled demolition of the 22-storey Great Nigeria House on Lagos Island.

The initiative, requested by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, aims to prevent the risk of a secondary collapse in the city’s bustling financial district.

The decision follows the devastating Christmas Eve fire that claimed eight lives and left the skyscraper structurally compromised. Experts have deemed the building beyond salvage, prompting the need for a precise and phased demolition in one of Lagos’ most densely populated commercial areas.

Air Commodore Usman Bature, NEMA Director of Search and Rescue, confirmed that the operation is designed to secure the site, allowing first responders to safely access the deepest layers of the rubble and carry out excavation work.

“The building’s foundation has been severely damaged by intense heat,” a NEMA spokesperson said. “CCECC has deployed heavy machinery and is awaiting final technical clearance to begin the dismantling.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who inspected the site on January 2, indicated that the tragedy will catalyze a broader urban regeneration of the Balogun Market area. Authorities also plan to conduct comprehensive safety audits of nearby high-rise buildings, many of which were found to have building code violations during the fire response.

This demolition reflects a critical step toward ensuring public safety while reinforcing urban planning and emergency response protocols in Lagos’ commercial core.

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In a renewed push to reclaim public spaces and strengthen urban security, the Lagos State Government has cleared more than 200 illegal shanties and evicted scores of squatters operating beneath and around key bridges in the Ijora, Apapa Road, and Costain areas.

The large-scale operation, spearheaded by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, was a joint task involving the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and the Nigeria Police Force.

During the exercise, officials of LASTMA discovered a dummy firearm and other weapons hidden inside makeshift shelters under the bridge – a discovery that reinforced government concerns about rising crime and insecurity in the area.

Giwa described the shanties as havens for illicit activity, noting that many of the occupants had turned the area into hideouts for drug dealers, traffic robbers, and miscreants who terrorised commuters and residents.

“These illegal structures represent a clear assault on public order and environmental integrity,” Giwa said. “They pose serious security risks to Lagosians and will not be allowed to return. The state government will continue to enforce zero tolerance for such lawlessness.”

He explained that the affected areas had also become informal garages and dumping grounds for abandoned vehicles, often used by criminals to store stolen items and evade security patrols.

According to him, the operation aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s broader T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda, particularly the components focused on environmental sustainability, urban renewal, and public safety.

“The government is committed to sustaining this momentum. Any attempt by displaced individuals to return will attract decisive enforcement action,” he said.

The cleared locations including the Apapa Road, Costain, and Ijora corridors inward Iponri had been identified by law enforcement as persistent flashpoints for traffic congestion, petty crime, and environmental degradation.

Giwa commended the coordinated effort of all participating agencies and urged residents to collaborate with the government by promptly reporting suspicious activities around bridges and other public infrastructure.

He reaffirmed that the Sanwo-Olu administration remains dedicated to creating a cleaner, safer, and more orderly Lagos that meets global megacity standards.

Recovered items, including the dummy gun, knives, and other materials, have been handed over to security operatives for investigation.

He also revealed that similar operations will be extended to other strategic corridors such as Oshodi, Ojuelegba, and Berger, where illegal settlements and street trading have continued to impede traffic flow and threaten safety.

“This is not a one-off effort; it is part of an ongoing strategy to protect lives, improve mobility, and maintain the integrity of public infrastructure,” Giwa added.

Residents welcomed the move, describing it as a necessary step to restore order in one of Lagos’s busiest transport corridors. However, they also appealed to the government to provide designated relocation areas and affordable housing options for displaced persons.

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has condemned the recent demolition of buildings in Oworonshoki, Lagos, describing the action as a violation of the Constitution and a subsisting court order.

Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, Falana said the demolitions, which took place at midnight last Saturday, ignored a restraining order issued by the Lagos State High Court. He noted that the order had been duly served on relevant government agencies before the operation began.

“The court granted an order stopping further demolitions until the matter is heard. By Friday, certified copies were served, yet by Saturday night, bulldozers invaded Oworonshoki,” Falana said.

“When I contacted an official, he told me, ‘We are going to do it, and heaven will not fall.’ That shows total contempt for the rule of law.”

Falana cited Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to own property anywhere in the country, as well as Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which upholds similar protections.

He argued that no governor or minister has the authority to order demolitions without a court ruling, stressing that only a competent court or legally constituted tribunal can authorise such actions.

“No executive officer can unilaterally declare a property illegal and demolish it. Due process must be followed,” he said.

The Lagos State Government, however, denied violating any court order. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the operation targeted illegal structures on drainage channels and road setbacks as part of the state’s urban renewal and flood prevention efforts.

Omotoso maintained that the exercise was aimed at restoring environmental integrity and that the government would not willfully disobey a valid court order.

The demolitions, which affected the Coker and Ojulari communities, occurred hours after the government had promised to compensate displaced residents.

Legal experts have since urged the state to balance its urban development initiatives with citizens’ constitutional rights to property and fair hearing.

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Days after the Lagos State Government carried out a midnight demolition of waterfront settlements along Tolu Alashe Street in Oworonshoki, the once-bustling community has been reduced to rubble – and despair.

When Vanguard revisited the area, the scene was one of devastation: piles of broken blocks, twisted roofing sheets, and scattered household items marked where hundreds of families once lived and traded. Women and children, stranded under the open sky, now struggle to piece together the remnants of their lives.

Some residents sat helplessly beside salvaged possessions, hoping to sell whatever was left. Among them was Mrs. Rebecca, a mother of one, whose voice trembled as she recounted her ordeal.

“I have a problem with my spinal cord,” she said softly, sitting beside a rusted pot and a broken standing fan. “I paid ₦360,000 for my two-room apartment. I had just completed the payment when they came at night and destroyed everything. I wanted to end my life, but my sister stopped me.”

Rebecca, who sold cooked food before the demolition, said she has since resorted to selling her remaining belongings to survive – often at giveaway prices.

“I bought this fan for ₦35,000, but the aboki offered me ₦1,000. I don’t have a choice,” she said tearfully. “I just need money to eat and for treatment. Everywhere I turn, there is no help.”

Across the area, scrap buyers – mostly itinerant traders – were seen negotiating with displaced residents for their few remaining possessions.

Another victim, Mrs. Jumai, who had lived in the community for over a decade, recounted the chaos of that night.

“They came around 11 p.m. We were asleep when our neighbours started shouting that bulldozers were coming,” she said. “We grabbed what we could and ran. My home and my shop – where I sold pepper soup and drinks – were in the same compound. They destroyed everything.”

Jumai’s children’s school was also demolished. “We stayed in the same compound with the school. Now it’s all gone,” she lamented. “I don’t even know where to start again – no home, no business, no school for my children.”

As the dust settles over Oworonshoki, the human cost of the demolition continues to deepen. Families who once lived and worked by the waterfront now face hunger, illness, and homelessness – their dreams buried beneath the debris.

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Tension has engulfed Oworonshoki, Lagos, after over 70 houses were demolished at Ajileru, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Streets,  days after a High Court ordered a halt to demolitions in the area.

Justice A.G. Balogun of the Lagos High Court had on October 23, 2025, restrained the Lagos State Government and its agencies from demolishing properties belonging to members of the Itesiwaju Ajumoni CDA. The injunction remains in force until due legal procedures are followed.

Despite this, bulldozers escorted by security operatives reportedly moved in at midnight on Saturday, pulling down homes and displacing families.

“Our houses were destroyed despite the court order. People slept outside with their children,” said a resident, Mr. Adewale. Another, Adenike, who is pregnant, said she fled barefoot with her children.

Community leaders condemned the action as contempt of court, accusing the government of violating the rule of law.

The affected residents have called for urgent intervention from the Lagos State Government and human rights groups.

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