The Lagos State Government (LASG) has firmly defended its ongoing demolition of illegal and unapproved structures, including those at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, citing public safety and adherence to legal mandates.
However, the exercise has ignited a furious public and political backlash, with many critics, particularly from the Southeast, alleging the actions are a direct ethnic attack against Igbo traders and investors.
Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, the Lagos Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, issued a statement reiterating the state’s zero tolerance for illegal developments that pose “serious risks to public safety.”
- Olumide stated the enforcement actions are backed by the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act of 1992 and the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019. He also cited a 2003 Supreme Court judgment confirming the state’s right to control physical developments.
- The Commissioner emphasized that the issue at the Trade Fair Complex is solely about ensuring all buildings have valid planning permits, not about land ownership or title disputes.
- Deadline: All developers and occupants within the complex were given a two-week deadline to regularize their building approvals with the ministry.
- Olumide specifically cautioned political actors, particularly from the Southeast, against misrepresenting facts and using ethnic sentiments. To prove the exercise is not targeted, he listed other demolition sites—including Pelewura Market, Bombata Market, Otumara, Alaba Rago, and Oluwole Market—stating these areas are occupied by diverse ethnic groups. He also pointed out that other Southeast states like Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo have carried out similar urban renewal demolitions without ethnic accusations.
Political and Ethnic Backlash
Despite the government’s denials, prominent Igbo political figures have strongly criticized the demolitions, framing them as a calculated effort to undermine Igbo economic dominance in Lagos.
- Peter Obi, former presidential candidate, weighed in, arguing that while the government has a right to enforce planning laws, the timing, scale, and specific targeting of markets predominantly run by Igbo traders raise serious questions about malice and ethnic motivation. He suggested the selective enforcement is punitive and creates an atmosphere of fear that discourages legitimate investment.
- Senator Victor Umeh reportedly made similar arguments, stressing that the demolitions are a form of economic warfare. He argued that the continuous singling out of markets where Igbos have concentrated their hard-earned capital is designed to inflict maximum economic damage, questioning why the enforcement focus appears skewed towards Igbo business clusters.
The controversy led to a more radical call for economic action. A skit maker, identified as Governor Amunike in a viral video, strongly urged Igbo traders and entrepreneurs to stop investing in Lagos and redirect their capital to their homelands in the Southeast.
This argument is based on the premise that continued investment in a hostile environment is illogical, and that building up their regional economy is the only sustainable long-term solution against perceived ethnic targeting.
Public Reaction and Future Investment Signals
The saga has led to widespread reaction online, polarizing public opinion:
- Many online users, particularly those identifying as Igbo, used the tag #LagosDemolitions to share videos and photos, arguing that the concentration of the destruction on Trade Fair Complex (a hub for major importers) and other popular Igbo trading areas proves the government’s intent is to cripple Igbo businesses.
- Conversely, many Lagos residents and commentators supported the LASG, arguing that the demolitions are long overdue to address shoddy construction, clogged drainage systems, and chaotic urban planning. They countered the ethnic narrative by insisting that any illegal structure, regardless of the owner’s ethnicity, must be removed to ensure public safety and mitigate flood risks.
- The entire controversy sends negative signals to investors, both local and foreign. Emenike’s call for divestment, combined with the visible destruction of assets, introduces political and ethnic riskto investments in Lagos. Business leaders are likely to view the current climate as unpredictable, potentially slowing future long-term capital commitments until the government can clearly separate its lawful regulatory actions from accusations of ethnic bias.
The Lagos State Government faces a challenging task: upholding the rule of law and enforcing safety standards while simultaneously convincing a skeptical public that its actions are non-discriminatory and not driven by ethnic politics.
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