The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, has condemned the demolition of plazas at the trade fair complex in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State despite having valid approvals.
According to the former Anambra governor, it is economcally destructive and was done withouth due process.
Officials of the Lagos Ministry of Physical Planning, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority had recently carried out a controversial demolition exercise, which was seen by many as targeting owners from a particular section of the country.
In a post on Tuesday, Obi, who visited the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association, ASPAMDA, section of the market with a handful of lawmakers, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), regretted that the plazas were pulled down despite valid approvals.
Obi said some National Assembly members have pledged to investigate the demolition “thoroughly and bring to light the circumstances that led to this unfortunate development” to forestall a recurrence.
He wrote: “I must commend the traders for their remarkable restraint and calm in the face of such painful loss.
“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.
“Incidents like this should have no place in a nation that aspires to fairness, stability, and shared prosperity.”
The Lagos State government however denies targeting Igbo traders, who mainly owned the plazas destroyed.
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