The Lagos State Government is rigorously defending its recent demolition exercise at the Trade Fair Complex, rejecting public accusations of illegality and political motivation. The state insists that all actions were taken in strict adherence to due process and building safety laws.
This staunch defense follows sharp criticism from Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), who on Monday labelled the demolitions as “illegal” and “beyond the jurisdiction of the Lagos State Government.”
The Jurisdictional Dispute
Senator Umeh, speaking on Channels Television, argued that the Trade Fair Complex is a Federal Government propertymanaged by the Trade Fair Management Board, placing it outside of the state’s control.
“The Trade Fair Complex is a federal establishment where the Lagos State Government moved in with heavy machinery to destroy people’s properties and investments without justification. Federal lands are managed by federal agencies, not state governments,” Umeh stated.
Lagos Commissioners Insist on Legal Authority
In response, Lagos State officials maintained that the state’s commitment is to safety and regulatory compliance, regardless of property ownership.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, took to X (formerly Twitter) to dismiss the criticism, suggesting that commentators often hold Lagos to a different standard. He questioned why similar enforcement actions by other state governors were not deemed illegal.
“When it comes to Lagos State, every Tom, Dick, and Harry have an opinion… Here in Lagos, every of our actions are backed by the law, and we stand by it all,” Wahab declared.
Supporting this stance, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Oluyinka Olumide, reaffirmed that the demolitions were carried out to enforce compliance and ensure public safety. He stressed that the complex had a history of non-compliance with building regulations and had repeatedly refused to cooperate with voluntary efforts to regularize the structures, despite numerous warnings.
“This is about ensuring a livable and organised built environment, not targeting anyone personally,” Olumide concluded, solidifying the state’s position that the enforcement was regulatory, not political.
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