Two groups staged rival protests at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, on Thursday, with one group demanding an end to economic hardship and the other defending the government.
The anti-hardship group, led by Abiodun Kolawole, carried placards calling for action against looters and relief for the masses.
They urged President Bola Tinubu and governors to address the high cost of living, according to Peoples Gazette.
However, the pro-government group, represented by Azeez Anomuyiwa, opposed the protest, claiming the anti-hardship group misunderstood the current administration.
Police attempted to persuade the pro-government group to protest inside the park, but they declined, fearing potential attacks.
The protests remained peaceful, with both groups exercising their rights to express their opinions.
However, there were protesters who began their marches from Ikeja, Ojota and Lekki.
There are also pockets of protests in other parts of the metropolis.
The police had warned the demonstrators against converging on the tollgate because the site — scene of a “massacre” during the anti-police brutality protests of 2020 — was not one of the approved venues for the protest.
Recall that on July 30, the Lagos state government secured a court order restricting protesters to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park, Ketu.
Emmanuel Ogundare, a judge at the Lagos high court, granted the restriction order while ruling on an ex parte application filed by Lawal Pedro, the state’s attorney-general.
Also, police have reportedly been firing teargas at protesters in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
