The Lagos State Government has explained the reasons behind the recent demolition of several buildings at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos, stressing that the move was necessary to enforce physical planning laws and ensure public safety.
According to Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, the demolition was not a random or politically motivated exercise but a legal enforcement action rooted in the state’s mandate to regulate urban development.
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Legal Backing for the Demolition
Dr. Olumide highlighted that the Supreme Court ruling of 2003, alongside the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019 (as amended), grants Lagos full authority to supervise and enforce planning regulations across the state. This includes areas sitting on Federal Government land, such as the Trade Fair Complex.
He explained that while the Trade Fair Complex belongs to the Federal Government, this does not exempt property developers, traders, or landlords within the complex from Lagos State’s planning and safety laws.
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“We have acted decisively to halt further development of unapproved and unsafe buildings in the Complex as a livable, organised, orderly, and sustainable built environment is crucial to achieving our T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda,” Dr. Olumide stated in a press release issued by Mukaila Sanusi, the Director of Public Affairs for the ministry.
The Scope of the Demolition Exercise
Recapitalise and strengthen the regulation of Primary Mortgage Banks and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nig
On Thursday, enforcement officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), and other allied agencies, backed by security operatives, moved into the complex to demolish over 19 buildings.
The affected properties were primarily located in New Mandela Plaza, one of the busiest sections of the market. Reports estimate that each of the demolished structures was worth about ₦150 million, underscoring the scale of the losses.
eria (FMBN).
Streamline housing governance by creating a more coordinated structure to improve implementation across agencies.
Encourage innovative financing models such as non-interest mortgages, rent-to-own schemes, and diaspora-focused housing loans.
Digitise land registries and deploy GIS-based systems to enhance transparency, reduce transaction delays, and unlock dormant land value.
Integrate local manufacturers into the housing value chain through SME financing, tax incentives, and training to lower construction costs.
Address land titling bottlenecks, transfer mortgage disputes to specialised tribunals, and promote adaptive reuse of public assets for slum regeneration.
Ensure gender inclusion in housing policy, design, and leadership roles.
Urge state governments to revive housing corporations and provide critical infrastructure such as roads, water, and electricity.
The Commissioner disclosed that the demolished structures had a long-standing record of non-compliance with planning regulations. Multiple efforts had been made to bring the developers into voluntary compliance, including issuing a formal notice for regularisation in November 2023. However, according to him, these directives were consistently ignored by property owners, leaving the government with no choice but to take enforcement action.
Reactions from Stakeholders
The demolition has sparked mixed reactions among stakeholders. Some have applauded the government for taking firm action to restore order and protect lives, while others see it as a harsh decision with devastating economic consequences.
Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ally of President Bola Tinubu, openly criticised the move. Igbokwe, who revealed that he, alongside former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, serves as a patron of the ASPAMDA International Market, expressed his shock on Facebook.
“What is happening in ASPAMDA Trade Fair Complex Lagos? This one choke me ooooo. I am asking this question because I am among the 3 Patrons of ASPAMDA International Market, namely HE Peter Obi, myself and the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. Bar Veronica Ndanusa, the Executive Director/CEO Trade Fair, was just standing there and speechless,” he wrote.
On Friday, Igbokwe visited the market to sympathise with the owners of the affected properties. He noted the “incalculable damage” done and met with the ASPAMDA leadership to discuss possible next steps.
What This Means for Property Buyers and Investors in Lagos
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