NEWS
Why We Demolished Alaba International Market – Lagos Govt
The Lagos state government has clarified that the recent demolition of distressed buildings in Alaba International Market, Ojo Local Council, was not a witch-hunt or an attempt to acquire the land but to save lives.
Gbolahan Oki, the general manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), made this statement during an on-the-spot assessment of the demolition site on Saturday.
The inspection took place amid heavy rainfall and was attended by Kehinde Osinaike, the counterpart from Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), and the seven-member committee appointed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu following the demolition.
The group, led by Oluwole Sotire, permanent secretary of their parent parastatal, the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, conducted the visit.
In response to allegations of tribal bias surrounding the demolition exercise, South-East traders in the market, led by Imo Governor, Hope Uzodimma, met with Governor Sanwo-Olu to address and resolve the concerns.
During the on-the-spot assessment, Mr. Oki clarified that the demolition was carried out to enforce building regulations and laws, with the primary aim of preventing building collapses.
He further explained that a significant number of the demolished buildings did not have the required permits, and the necessary documentation mandated by the state government was disregarded.
He said “All we are after is that the lives of traders and other Nigerians are extremely important to the Lagos State Government.
“I have seen people painting buildings that are delapidated, that are not good, it is not painting that makes a building new. Our lives are more important.”
Mr Oki urged owners of distressed buildings marked for demolition to remove them within two weeks, to prevent disaster, or else government would move in to take action.
“My mandate is to remove anything that is dilapidated, that is harmful to the people that even owns it,” he said.
He stated that Governor Sanwo-Olu established the seven-man committee with the aim of addressing the demolition concerns in Alaba International Market without causing any discord among the traders.
Mr. Oki emphasized that LASBCA officials often faced hindrances when trying to enforce building laws, especially from individuals who failed to obtain proper building plan approvals or engaged in illegal property conversions.
Despite facing challenging conditions like flash floods during the on-site assessment, the LASBCA boss managed to issue a stop work order to a contractor from Ojo Local Government to facilitate a peaceful resolution of all related issues.
Additionally, Mr. Oki assured the protesters, who were carrying placards expressing their grievances, that the government had their interests in mind.
To expedite the resolution of matters, the government appointed an additional 17-man sub-committee, including representatives from the market leadership, dedicated to handling the issues at hand.
Mr. Oki provided an explanation for the demolition of distressed buildings and highlighted the necessity for some traders to undergo regularization processes.
He pointed out that one of the reasons for the demolition was the problem of land grabbers illegally selling the same land to multiple people which created complications and conflicts that needed to be addressed.
Additionally, he stated that there was a need to rectify haphazard development within the area.
Before visiting the market, Mr. Oki and his team held a meeting with the leadership of Alaba International Market traders at the LASBCA head office in Ikeja GRA.
The market leaders, who were also members of the seven-man technical committee established to investigate the demolition issues in Alaba International Market, discussed the appropriate course of action going forward.
The LASBCA boss elaborated on the processes and procedures governing laws on physical developments and emphasized the importance of complying with regulations.
He made it clear that the government’s decisions were not influenced by ethnic considerations but solely driven by the objective of preventing building collapses and ensuring the safety of traders and all Nigerians.
Chris Maduka, the secretary to the seven-man technical committee on Alaba International demolition, expressed appreciation for the government’s actions in cleaning up the market.
He stated that the measures taken had brought the committee members and the government closer together.
Furthermore, he highlighted that these actions were in the best interest of everyone, as they aimed to protect traders from exploitation by touts who collected conflicting taxes and illegal levies from them.
During the on-the-spot assessment at the market, Maduka appealed for the cooperation and understanding of the traders who were affected by the demolition exercise.
He emphasized that resorting to protests or violence would defeat the very purpose for which Governor Sanwo-Olu set up the Committee in the first place.
Some of the affected traders, holding placards with various inscriptions, pleaded with Mr. Sanwo-Olu to expedite the assignment of the committee to enable them to regain their means of livelihood.
They expressed their desire for a swift resolution to the situations and resume their businesses.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has inaugurated a 21-member Ad-Hoc Committee that will oversee the administration of Rivers State during the six-month State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.
The committee, which will be led by the House Leader, Rep. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, with Rep. Ali Isa J.C. serving as Deputy Chairman, was officially unveiled on Tuesday at the National Assembly in Abuja.
According to Speaker Abbas, the creation of the committee demonstrates the National Assembly’s commitment to constitutional order, good governance, and the protection of national unity.
READ MORE: Rivers Women Stage Solidarity March In Support Of Emergency Rule
“This marks a critical milestone in our constitutional mandate and is a reflection of our dedication to transparent governance and the rule of law,” the Speaker declared during the inauguration ceremony.
President Tinubu’s declaration, which came into effect on March 18, was made under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The President described the situation in Rivers State as a “grave crisis threatening public order” and emphasized the need to safeguard the welfare of the citizens.
Referencing previous cases of emergency rule, including those in Plateau (2004), Ekiti (2006), and the North-East (2013), Abbas reminded lawmakers that the National Assembly had always played a stabilizing role during such interventions.
He clarified that the appointment of Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd.) as the caretaker administrator for Rivers State is a stopgap arrangement designed to restore basic governance and maintain public safety.
“The Administrator’s role is limited to maintaining law and order until democratic governance is fully restored,” Abbas said, adding that the administrator would be reporting directly to the National Assembly.
The Speaker urged committee members to carry out their duties with professionalism and neutrality, warning them to avoid partisan conduct.
“You must avoid partisanship and ensure that your actions strictly align with the Constitution,” Abbas stressed. “Beyond oversight, you are also expected to support reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts in Rivers State.”
In response, Committee Chairman Ihonvbere expressed confidence in the team’s ability to carry out the assignment with excellence, citing the members’ collective experience and commitment.
“If I am not wrong, this is probably the strongest ad-hoc committee ever set up since 2019,” Ihonvbere noted.
“With the experience, exposure, and dedication of this team, I assure you on behalf of my colleagues that we will not disappoint the Speaker, the National Assembly, or the Nigerian people.”
He added that the committee would begin work immediately and promised that all activities would be guided by transparency, diligence, and objectivity.
The committee’s responsibilities will include monitoring the implementation of federal directives in Rivers State, ensuring that the caretaker government stays within constitutional boundaries, and submitting regular reports to the House of Representatives.
Former Kano State Governor and 2023 Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has condemned the recent spate of deadly attacks in Plateau State, calling on the relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice.
Kwankwaso, in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page, expressed deep sadness over the attack on the Zike community, Kimakpa, in Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area, which claimed the lives of 51 people and left several properties destroyed.
READ ALSO: 40 Killed In Fresh Attack On Plateau Community As Violence Escalates
The NNPP chieftain described the incident as a tragic addition to the wave of violence that has rocked the state in recent weeks.
He noted that the Zike attack came shortly after over fifty other residents were killed across five communities within the space of a week.
“It is important that Plateau State must not be allowed to become a hotbed of violence and wanton destruction again after the relative peace it has enjoyed in recent years,” he stated.
Kwankwaso called on the Federal Government to rise to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, while urging residents and stakeholders to embrace peace.
“I extend my condolences to the Government and people of Plateau State. I also urge the authorities to ensure that justice is served by bringing the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to book,” the former governor added.
The recent attacks have continued to fuel concerns over security lapses in the region, as calls for decisive action and lasting solutions grow louder.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council has commended Dangote Refinery for its consistency in the price reduction of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol.
The NUJ was reacting to the latest reduction in the ex-gantry loading cost of PMS from ₦880 per litre to ₦865.
Biztellers reports that the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, Adeleye Ajayi, noted that the Dangote Refinery had projected itself as a huge partner in progress to all Nigerians.
The gesture, the Council Chairman said had endeared the business mogul to Nigeria as a saviour of the masses in the face of the present hardship.
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Recall that the Dangote Refinery had announced a reduction of its ex-depot price per liter by N15 ostensibly following reduction in the price of crude oil in the international market.
“I want to emphatically say that the Dangote Refinery is indeed a blessing to all Nigerians. The roll out of petroleum products from Dangote Refinery has indeed changed the game and the fuel market is now liberalized,” he stated.
Urging other industrialists to take a cue from Dangote’s good heart towards Nigerians in the face of present economic hardship, the NUJ boss added, “In the last few months, we are all aware that Dangote Refinery has crashed the price of PMS at different interval and we are very optimistic that such gesture will be extended to other sectors by other industrialists.
“We need more Dangotes in this country so that Nigeria can be great again. Imagine if we have three or four Dangote in other sectors of Nigeria’s economy, Nigeria’s economic progress would have been fastracked.”
In a related development, Ajayi lauded the move by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which gave an express approval for the full implementation of the suspended Naira-for-Crude agreement with local refiners on Wednesday.
He opined that the move would boost the confidence of the citizenry, as the output was expected to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
Reps Moves To Ensure Order In Rivers, Inaugurates 21-Member Committee
‘Plateau Must Not Become A Killing Field’ — Kwankwaso Mourns Victims, Seeks Justice
NUJ Lauds Dangote For Crashing Petrol Price
NIMASA Dangles Opportunities Before Private Investors At Enugu Int’l Trade Fair
Shell Commends Oloibiri Lecture Series As Platform For Change
