Commuters on the Third Mainland Bridge were left stranded on Monday as residents of Oworonshoki in Kosofe Local Government Area staged a protest.
The demonstration was in response to the demolition of their houses by the state government.
The demonstration blocked the inward lane of the bridge, causing heavy gridlock and forcing motorists to seek alternative routes into the mainland.
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It was gathered that the traffic, the protest began at dawn, with hundreds of residents accusing the government of demolishing their homes without prior notice or compensation.
Many claimed the exercise had left families homeless. One resident lamented, “They came without any warning.
“Our children have nowhere to sleep, and we have been left helpless.”
The demolition, which started on Saturday, was carried out by a combined enforcement team targeting structures deemed illegal along the Lekki and Iyana Oworonshoki coastal lines.
Another protester said, “We are not against development, but how can they destroy our homes without compensation? We demand fairness.”
During the protest, demonstrators confronted Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Moshood Jimoh, insisting that demolition equipment should be withdrawn before they vacated the bridge.
In response, CP Jimoh told the crowd, “We understand your concerns, but the law must be upheld.
“Let us work together to find a solution without endangering lives.”
In a statement issued by the Lagos State Police Command, through Babasayi Oluseyi, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed that normalcy had been restored.
“Minimal force was used to disperse the crowd, barricades were dismantled, and traffic flow was restored,” the statement read.
“No lives were lost, and public safety remains our top priority.”
