Lekki Airport: Ajah residents beg Sanwo-Olu to halt demolition for pending compensation

Residents and property owners in the Ajiwe community of Ajah, Lagos State, have issued a heartfelt appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urging the state government to pause ongoing demolitions tied to major infrastructure projects until adequate compensation is provided.

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The affected residents said their buildings are being marked for demolition to pave the way for the Gas Link pipeline and the Green Line Rail corridor, both integral to the Lagos State Government’s ambitious Lekki International Airport development plan in Ibeju-Lekki.

Protest on Abraham Adesanya Expressway

On Saturday, dozens of landlords, business owners, and tenants took to Abraham Adesanya Expressway, carrying placards with inscriptions such as: “We say no to Gas Link and Green Line Rail projects demolition of our properties without compensation.”

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“Our properties cannot be demolished without compensation.Compensate us before demolition.”

Residents Demand Dialogue and Compensation

Spokesman for the protesters, Kehinde Alakoso, acknowledged that the projects were for the public good but emphasised the emotional and financial toll on citizens whose homes and businesses are at risk.

“We have written to the governor, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, and other officials. In April 2025, we met with the commissioner, and there were verbal assurances of compensation, but nothing concrete has been done since then,” Alakoso stated.

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He noted that since November 2024, when pipeline works began, businesses have been crippled, entrances blocked, and residents are living in constant fear of eviction.

“We Have Legitimate Titles” – Landowners insist

Many of the affected property owners claim to have valid title documents, including Certificates of Occupancy and government approvals, challenging the legality of demolitions without compensation.

“The law permits government acquisition for public purposes, but it must be accompanied by fair compensation. We are not opposing development, we only want our rights respected,” Alakoso explained.

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Ahmed Ajanaku, General Secretary of the Odugbese Ajereongbe Chieftaincy family, said affected landlords had attended a stakeholders’ meeting in April at Swiss Hotel, VGC, where government officials allegedly made promises they have since failed to uphold.

Another affected tenant, Prince Olanshile Mogaji, who represents occupants of Top Notch Plaza, a property in use since 2004, pleaded for a more humane and lawful process.

“We don’t have the power to fight government, but we expect them to follow due process. We have all the legal documents backing our ownership,” Mogaji said.

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The Gas Link and Green Rail Line projects are part of Lagos State’s ambitious plan to boost infrastructure and transportation access around the Lekki Airport, a centrepiece of the ongoing transformation of the Lekki Free Zone.

While the long-term benefits of the airport and supporting infrastructure are widely acknowledged, critics say the state must not sideline the rights of citizens in pursuit of progress.

As tension simmers in Ajah and surrounding communities, residents are calling on Governor Sanwo-Olu to intervene urgently, ensure that compensation frameworks are activated, and open a transparent dialogue with all affected parties.

“Development should not come at the cost of displacing law-abiding citizens without support or explanation,” said Alakoso.