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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.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that he is healthy, sound and ready to resume work after returning to Nigeria from his four-week working vacation in Europe.
Tinubu made the remarks on Tuesday shortly after arriving in Lagos from Paris, France, where he spent the final part of his vacation.
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Speaking briefly after his arrival, the President said he enjoyed the break before assuring Nigerians of his readiness to return to official duties.
“I enjoyed myself,” Tinubu said.
On his readiness to resume work, he added: “Ready to kick, ready to work. There’s nothing wrong.”
The President also addressed rumours surrounding his wellbeing, attributing such speculation to the political environment.
“Well, rumour will always be emanating from politics, but the fact remains I’m here—healthy, sound, and ready to go,” he said.
Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 6:22 p.m. on Tuesday, marking the end of his European working vacation.
His return comes ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1, with the President expected to participate in activities marking the occasion in Lagos.
The Presidency had earlier said Tinubu would remain in Lagos for several days for Independence Day engagements and strategic meetings before returning to Abuja.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 and spent time in London and Paris during the trip, while continuing official engagements.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, has highlighted the completion of the 1.2-kilometre Kaa-Ataba Bridge in Rivers State as evidence of the Commission’s growing capacity to deliver major infrastructure projects across the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku spoke at the 2026 NDDC Partners for Sustainable Development Conference in Port Harcourt, where he attributed the Commission’s progress to the support and cooperation of its development partners and other stakeholders.
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The Kaa-Ataba Bridge links Khana and Andoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State and is expected to improve connectivity between the communities when opened to vehicular traffic.
According to Ogbuku, the project is among developments that many previously considered beyond the capacity of the NDDC.
“These are things that, in the past, people never believed the NDDC could do. Today, we are doing them seamlessly because of the support we are getting,” he said.
The NDDC boss said the progress recorded by the Commission demonstrated the impact of collaboration between the agency and its development partners.
He thanked stakeholders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and the Minister of Regional Development for their support and encouragement towards the delivery of projects across the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku said the achievements also underscored the importance of collective responsibility, in line with the theme of the 2026 conference, “Synergy for Transformation.”
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has highlighted the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC Ltd) latest financial and operational performance, saying the figures offer “some lessons for Atiku” amid the debate over fuel subsidy.
Onanuga disclosed this in a post on X on Tuesday while reviewing NNPC’s key financial performance for 2025 following the release of the company’s audited results.
According to him, NNPC’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 22 per cent to ₦18 trillion, while earnings per share increased by 32 per cent to ₦35.9.
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He said the company’s operating cash flow also grew by 16 per cent to ₦12.8 trillion, while return on equity improved by 200 basis points to 16 per cent.
Onanuga further noted that NNPC declared a ₦5.8 trillion dividend, representing a 35 per cent increase.
Highlighting the company’s operational performance, he said crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.77 million barrels per day, its highest level in five years.
Natural gas output, he added, averaged 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day, representing a three-year high.
Oil and condensate production totalled 565.8 million barrels, up five per cent, while NNPC’s equity share increased by 11 per cent to 223.7 million barrels.
Gas production also reached 2,606.2 billion standard cubic feet, up nine per cent, while the company’s equity share rose by 11 per cent to 1,154.9 billion standard cubic feet.
Onanuga then linked the performance to the subsidy debate, arguing against a return to petrol subsidy.
“Atiku’s subsidy programme will certainly kill this company, which could be our own Aramco. Our country has no business taking 100 steps back. Forward ever!” he said.
NNPC Records ₦7.2tn Profit
NNPC Ltd had earlier announced a 33 per cent increase in profit after tax for the financial year ended December 31, 2025.
The company’s profit after tax rose from ₦5.4 trillion in 2024 to ₦7.2 trillion in 2025, while revenue stood at ₦34.5 trillion.
NNPC also reported a 22 per cent increase in EBITDA to ₦18 trillion, a 16 per cent rise in operating cash flow to ₦12.8 trillion and a 32 per cent increase in earnings per share to ₦35.9.
The company declared a ₦5.8 trillion dividend, representing a 35 per cent increase.
On production, NNPC said crude oil and condensate output averaged 1.77 million barrels per day, its highest level in five years, while natural gas production averaged 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day.
The company said the results reflected stronger earnings capacity and operational momentum as it continues to pursue increased production and investment across the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
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