By Chidimma Okwara,
The demolition of the historic Lagos International Trade Fair Complex have sparked a heated political and legal confrontation between former Anambra State Governor and prominent political figure, Peter Obi, and the Lagos State Government.
The dispute centers on the Federal Government’s decision, through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), to hand over the complex to the Lagos State Government for redevelopment. The Lagos government views the move as essential for urban renewal and maximizing the economic potential of the expansive site.
The formal governor of Anambra State and the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter 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), said the plazas were pulled down despite valid approvals.
He 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.
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“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.”
Obi argues that the action amounts to a disregard for the rights of private investors and small business owners, many of whom hold valid leases for periods that have not yet expired. He asserts that the hasty demolition without adequate compensation or a clear resettlement plan will cause massive economic hardship and displace legitimate entrepreneurs.
Obi has called on the Federal Government to halt the process, insisting that any redevelopment must respect existing legal agreements and prioritize the interests of the traders.
He emphasized that the complex is a vital economic hub for the entire West African sub-region and its destruction would negatively impact cross-border trade and the livelihoods of countless Nigerians.
Lagos State Government’s Stance: Urban Renewal and Economic Maximization
The Lagos State Government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has countered Obi’s claims, stating that the redevelopment is necessary to modernize the decaying infrastructure and unlock the complex’s true economic value.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, tackled Mr Obi’s comments on the demolition of Trade Fair Complex.
Omotoso, in a reaction to Obi’s comments, said the former governor was trying to whip up sentiment.
The statement read in part: “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.”
While acknowledging the concerns of the traders, the state government has stressed that the BPE’s privatization and lease agreements contained clauses that permitted the government to re-enter and redevelop the property under certain conditions. They have promised a more organized and modern replacement structure that will eventually accommodate the displaced traders, though the exact nature and timing of compensation and resettlement remain a major point of contention.
Legal and Political Tensions
The disagreement is currently tied up in legal battles, with various associations of traders within the complex filing suits to stop the demolition.
The confrontation has also taken on a significant political dimension, putting Obi, a major opposition figure, against the ruling party (APC), which controls both the federal and Lagos state governments. The Trade Fair Complex issue has become a symbol of the larger debate over government-mandated urban renewal versus the protection of private property rights and market interests in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
