₦airaland Forum

PRESS STATEMENT
Obi wrong on Trade Fair Complex

Ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has visited the Trade Fair Complex where Lagos State Government enforced its Physical Planning Laws.

He praised the traders for what he called their “restraint”, adding that the buildings that were knocked down had approvals.

He launched into emotional theatrics, describing the incident as “a test of impunity, justice and compassion” - all in an effort to mislead the public by misinformation and disinformation. This is unfair.

Here are the facts of the matter: 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.

We must decide the kind of society we want - one governed by law or one run by emotions, fueled by political interests.

Gbenga Omotoso
HC, Information and Strategy

joseph1832:
The lyRics of that song I Love My Country sound alot like a song by a woman, can't remember her name, it's about Palm Wine.

I love Palm Wine
I no go lie
Na inside wine I dey live everyday
My papa na drinker I no lie
Me sef na drinker etc

Something of sort.

kunzyomi:
There's an airport along that road already. Abi na my eyes dey pain me?

naptu2:
2014 article. General Buhari's aircraft denied permission to land at Makurdi Air Force Base. This article blamed the Federal Airport Authority (FAAN), but if I remember correctly, FAAN later released a statement that it had nothing to do with them because the airport is owned and run by the Nigerian Air Force.

https://www.nairaland.com/2016832/buharis-aircraft-barred-landing-makurdi

Nigerian Air Force statement (2018). Southern leaders were due to fly to Benue for a summit with Middle Belt leaders. Their aircraft was denied permission to land at the Air Force Base. Femi Fani-Kayode condemned President Buhari for refusing to allow the aircraft to land at the base. The Nigerian Air Force released a statement that the facility is strictly a military airport. They said that civilian planes are allowed to land only after they have sought permission from NAF Headquarters. They said that the southern leaders got permission for a particular aircraft to land at the base, but at the last minute they made a verbal request for another aircraft to land at the base (I think the original aircraft had engine trouble), but it was too late to process the permission.

https://www.nairaland.com/4622754/nigeria-airforce-speaks-refusal-allow


Governor Ortom complained about a so-called flight ban at Makurdi Airport

Governor Ortom claimed that the government had imposed a flight ban on Makurdi Airport so that he would be exposed to bandits on the expressway. The FAAN said that it had nothing to do with them because the airport is owned and run by the Air Force. There's also another article that I haven't found yet, but Atiku's plane was denied permission to land at the airport when he wanted to campaign in Benue.

What was actually happening was that the airport was being renovated so that it could support anti-banditry operations. There had also been problems with the runway, so it was also fixed. I saw the video footage of the work that was done.

https://www.nairaland.com/4698680/benue-govt-naf-trade-words



Chief of Air Staff authorises civilian operations at Makurdi Air Force Base. This was after the renovation was completed.

https://dailytrust.com/cas-lifts-ban-on-civil-operation-at-makurdi-airport/


Vice President Osinbajo and Governor Ortom at Makurdi Air Force Base. The Vice President passed through the base on his way to Wukari. Governor Ortom came to the base to welcome him, but the Air Force guards at the gate refused to let him in. Governor Ortom raised an alarm in the media. Vice President Osinbajo heard about what happened and called the Chief of Air Staff. The Chief of Air Staff ordered the guards to let the governor in and suspended the head of the guards pending an investigation into the incident.

The Governor was able to meet the Vice President when the VP came back to the base on his way to Abuja.

https://www.nairaland.com/6984190/video-vice-president-osinbajo-governor

naptu2:
This is a collaboration between two living legends. One is a world famous writer and academic, while the other is an extremely gifted singer, comedian and actor.

The writer wrote and the singer sang (although you can hear the writer's voice on the record).

Note: Ethical Revolution was Shehu Shagari's programme, but his government was very corrupt.

Unfortunately the record skips a few times (the problem of vinyl).

naptu2:
Listen to that song from the 8:41 minute mark if you really want to hear Wole Soyinka's voice.

I want to listen to "ethical revolution" again.

naptu2:
From the 11:19 minute mark.

Ethical revolution. Ethical revo-how much?

Ethical private jet.

Ethical revo-wetin?

Ethical revolution.

Corner corner revo what?

Na who ban imported? Na who break the ban/

Ethical Mercedes?

Ethical private jet?

Ethical Helicomuter?

Ethical champagne

Ethical Swiss account

Etica etica ti iro?

(You can actually hear Wole Soyinka laughing in the background. You can also tell that Tunji Oyelana was enjoying himself way too much).

naptu2:
This is our destination.

naptu2:
I wonder if I should call Uncle Tunji Oyelana to mark the end of the day for us.

naptu2:
I mentioned Tunji Oyelana earlier, so I need to clarify.

NO

There's no "I Love My Country" or "Sura Di Tailor" in the list.

naptu2:
I have got to admit that I would not have remembered the lyrics of this version of this song if the Internet did not exist. It has been overshadowed in my mind by a slightly slower version with slightly different lyrics that was used as the theme song of the early 1980s sitcom, Sura Di Tailor (Tunji Oyelana also starred in the sitcom).

This song is on the B side of Unlimited Liability Company (Share-Di-Garri, i.e. Shagari).


Lyrics by Professor Wole Soyinka, sung by Tunji Oyelana:


Tunji Oyelana And The Benders - I Love My Country.

naptu2:
I've posted this many times before, but I'm going to post it again, because I think I'll need it very soon.


The question is, is there anything that this man could not do? He is a great actor, a fantastic comedian and just listen to the music in the video I posted yesterday. Is there anything that he could not do?

This particular song was like a second Nigerian anthem. This is the original version. It's not the version that was used in the sitcom or the version that was used by government.


Lyrics by Wole Soyinka.


Tunji Oyelana - I Love My Country


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GyitDd7-JY

naptu2:
And with that bit of craziness from Tunji Oyelana and Wole Soyinka, we come to the end of today's playlist.

Preparation ahead of the E1 Lagos GP slated to hold from 3-5th of October.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQsamDczXTk?si=OQeBGFexdQZbPzFF

Preparation ahead of the E1 Lagos GP slated to hold from 3-5th of October.#LagosWaterways #AGreaterLagosRising pic.twitter.com/1cV3kfLGM5

— Oluwaseun Osiyemi (@seunosiyemi_) September 29, 2025

naptu2:
Giant in The Sun (1983).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRgpWRtJh1g?si=ZtNMIpI7W-Getl0n

naptu2:
Funmi Adams - Nigeria My Beloved Country


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBAoRf1O6m8

naptu2:
The picture shows the order of precedence at that time.

President Babangida was the number 1 citizen, so he was at the centre of the picture. Aikhomu was the number 2 citizen, so he was on Babangida's right. Bali was the number 3 citizen, so he was on Babangida's left. The Army is the senior service (because it is the oldest), so Abacha is on Aikhomu's right. The Navy is the second oldest service, so Koshoni is on Bali's left. The Air Force is the youngest service and the Police Force is a civilian organisation and that's why Alfa and Gambo are at the edge of the photograph.

"Of particular importance is the progress which we have continued to make with the implementation of our policy of increasing our control over the strategic sectors of our economy as well as encouraging indigenous ownership of business generally. The Federal Government now holds 40 per cent of the equity shares in the three major expatriate commercial banks and has its appointees serving on their Boards of Directors. Further, negotiations which have been in progress and aimed at securing Government participation in the existing oil companies and their concessions have been concluded successfully. As a result, the Federal Government now holds at least thirty-five per cent of the equity shares in each of the oil companies operating in the country.

With effect from tomorrow, 2nd October, 1973, the Nigerian Bank of Commerce and Industry will open business to members of the public. The Bank, as you know, aims at providing equity capital and funds by way of loans to indigenous persons, institutions and organisations for medium and long term investments in industry and commence.

These past few years have witnessed erratic weather conditions all over the world. Scanty rainfalls in the Savannah Region stretching across North Africa, Central Asia and Latin America have caused the worst drought in these areas in recent history. Parts of Nigeria, especially the northern districts of the North-Western, North-Central, Kano and North-Eastern States have been badly affected. It would like to seize this opportunity to express the deep concern of the federal Government about the plight of the people in all the affected areas.

To provide immediate succour to the people in the areas affected by the drought, the Federal Government has made grants totalling 12-million Naira (16.4 million sterling) to the four states gravely affected, partly for the purchase of foodstuffs and livestock feeds to augment whatever is available locally and partly to improve water supply facilities by the provision of bore holes."

Nigerian Independence Day in London | Military Parade & Service at Westminster Abbey | Oct. 1960

October 1st 1960.

Footage of official events in London marking Nigeria's independence from Britain on October 1st 1960.

. A military parade outside the Nigerian High Commission on Northumberland Avenue where his Excellency Alhaji Abdul Maliki, High Commissioner for Nigeria, inspected British trained military personnel of the army and navy. The highlight of the ceremony was the raising of the Nigerian flag.

Ambassador Maliki was accompanied during the parade by Captain Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, the future military governor of the Western Region and Western State. Adebayo donned the uniform of an army major for the ceremony. Also present among the naval personnel where cadets training at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth: Husaini Abdullahi, Asuquo Ekanem and P.J. Odu.

. Among those attending the service at Westminster Abbey were the Conservative Party MP Duncan Sandys who was the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and Princess Mary, the Princess Royal.

♪Nigeria is 25
The odds we did survive
Arise salute the nation
Come join the celebration
A people united will never fall
***********************
Nigeria is 25!
Nigeria is 25!
Nigeria is 25! ♫