Thursday, October 2, 2025 - The Lagos state government has said that owners of buildings in the Trade Fair Complex on September 25 had no approval.
The state Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, said
this in a statement released today October 1.
Omotoso said this while reacting to comments made by former
Labour party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi who alongside some South East
leaders visited the Trade Fair complex on Monday, September 30.
During his visit, Obi condemned the demolition of the
buildings. In a statement released after his visit, Obi said the buildings were
demolished even after the traders had acquired the requisite approval before
erecting them. He pointed out that some of the traders had even taken loans and
other facilities to establish their businesses which have now been destroyed by
the government.
''Today,
alongside Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Victor Umeh, Col. Austin Akobundu, Tony
Nwoye, Honourable Members of the House of Representatives, Segun Sowonmi,
George Adegeye, Labour Party Lagos State Gubernatorial candidate, Gbadebo
Rhodes-Vivour and coordinator of the Obidient Movement Tanko Yunusa, we visited
the site of the demolished ASPAMDA Market at the Trade Fair in Lagos,
where plazas were pulled down despite traders having obtained the requisite
approvals.
I must
commend the traders for their remarkable restraint and calm in the face of such
painful loss. I equally appreciate the Senators and the House of
Representatives members who have pledged to investigate this matter thoroughly
and bring to light the circumstances that led to this unfortunate development,
and most importantly, ensure that the situation does not occur in the future.
Beyond this
immediate case, I urge government at all levels to act with compassion,
fairness, and a deep sense of justice, especially at this difficult time. Many
of the affected traders invested heavily - often through loans - in the hope of
securing their livelihoods and contributing to the wider economy. To destroy
such legitimate investments without due process is not only unjust but also
economically destructive.''Obi stated after his visit
However, in a statement released today, the state
Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, said that contrary to popular
opinion, the demolished buildings never received government approval.
‘’Obi wrong
on Trade Fair Complex
Ex-Labour
Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has visited the Trade Fair Complex where
Lagos State Government enforced its Physical Planning Laws.
He praised
the traders for what he called their “restraint”, adding that the buildings
that were knocked down had approvals.
He launched
into emotional theatrics, describing the incident as “a test of impunity,
justice and compassion” - all in an effort to mislead the public by
misinformation and disinformation. This is unfair.
Here are the
facts of the matter: The owners of the building have no approval.
They got
ample time to regularise their papers when the state government declared last
year a general amnesty, which was extended several times. The owners shunned
the offer. When Physical Planning officials visited the complex, the gates were
locked against them; they were beaten up. The police rescued them. When the
government called the owners for talks, they said they would not come; they did
not come.
Their defence is that the Management Board of the Trade Fair
permitted them to build their structures. This is wrong. The board, which is a
creation of the Federal Government to manage the complex, does not have powers
to approve or regulate building developments within the complex independent of
Lagos State Government. Physical Planning and building approvals are within the
remit of State Governments. Under the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act
(1992, as domesticated by Lagos State’s Physical Planning and Development
Regulations), all physical development in any part of Lagos must obtain
planning permit/approval from the Lagos State Government through its Ministry
of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
This position was further clarified and reinforced by The
Supreme Court judgment of 2003 (Attorney-General of Lagos State v.
Attorney-General of the Federation) that land use and physical planning fall
under concurrent jurisdiction, and states retain the authority to regulate
development control within their territories, including federal lands, except
for core areas like military formations or exclusive federal enclaves.
The Trade Fair Complex Board may manage leases, tenancies,
and commercial activities, but any construction, alteration, or development
still requires Lagos State planning permit. Otherwise, such developments would
be deemed illegal under state law, and the Lagos State Government has the power
to seal or demolish them.
In other words, the Management Board can allocate spaces and
give administrative consent, but building approvals must pass through Lagos
State Government.
We must decide the kind of society we want - one governed by
law or one run by emotions, fueled by political interests.''
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