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.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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