Lagos defends Trade Fair demolition, denies ethnic targeting

The Lagos State Government has defended the ongoing demolition of illegal structures at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, insisting that the exercise is a technical enforcement of planning laws and not targeted at any ethnic group.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olumide Oluyinka, made the clarification on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, following criticisms that the exercise was discriminatory.

“That is not true. We have been to Owode Onirin, Idumota, and Ikeja. It has no ethnic correlation. The fact is that we just have to do our work. There is nothing ethnic here; it is purely technical,” he said.

He explained that several buildings inside the complex were constructed without statutory approvals, some in violation of basic safety standards.

There has been a series of enforcement carried out on Lagos Island,” he added. “I personally led a team that even touched the palace of a white cap chief. This is Nigeria for all of us.

“The facts are clear; when you are in a place, you must live by the law of that place. It is as simple as that,” Oluyinka added.

The commissioner stressed that defaulters were given ample time to regularise their structures before the demolitions began, adding that government officials had faced harassment while serving notices.

He said, “I led a team there in March 2024. Between then and now is over a year and a half.

“We met with the Executive Director, and there was almost a confrontation, which is evidence that we were there.

Our officers went there to serve notices and were locked up for five to six hours. We had to bring in the police to release them.

“Even this year, officers went there and were detained. So what more notice are they requesting? It’s not new to them that we were coming. We gave defaulters time. They must keep by the law.”

He added that the Trade Fair Management worsened the situation by leasing land to third parties who built without recourse to planning regulations.

The commissioner lamented the state of infrastructure at the complex, citing poor refuse management, blocked drainage, and dilapidated walkways, and argued that the government had a duty to sanitise the area.

“It’s a shame we allowed our Trade Fair to get to that extent. Refuse, passage, drainages, walkways, sewage, everything is in shambles.

They should even be happy we are there to sanitise because that is our responsibility. We cannot allow it to continue,” he said.

On September 25, Lagos State authorities, led by the Ministry of Physical Planning, commenced the demolition of unsafe and illegal buildings at the complex.

The operation was carried out in collaboration with the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Urban Renewal Agency, and the Physical Planning Permit Authority, with security backup provided.