₦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

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

Richtaiwo:
Alaba Rago, a market dominated by Northerners, was demolished few weeks ago, no one has been heard crying foul.

Over 2000 shops were demolished in Anambra few months ago, no one raised an eyebrow.

Some things are just damn irritating.

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.

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.

Abdul05:
Someone should tell obi and his followers..

Lagos doesn't care about ethnicity---it cares about buildings that won't fall on people..

Richtaiwo:
Alaba Rago, a market dominated by Northerners, was demolished few weeks ago, no one has been heard crying foul.

Over 2000 shops were demolished in Anambra few months ago, no one raised an eyebrow.

Some things are just damn irritating.

Exousiang01:
He runs to Lagos each time and runs his mouth to please his minions who he know do not have the brain to think for themselves.

Richtaiwo:
Alaba Rago, a market dominated by Northerners, was demolished few weeks ago, no one has been heard crying foul.

Over 2000 shops were demolished in Anambra few months ago, no one raised an eyebrow.

Some things are just damn irritating.

It seems he has some favourite states in the south (outside the SE) that can't do without these commiserations.

It's always Lagos, its always Edo state....the two most cosmopolitan states in the whole South, where people and all religions usually live peacefully together.

It's seems I need to leave this Lagos ooo, as I can't stand visitors coming everytime to mourn

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

Exousiang01:
You don't need to reply we all know the truth.
That was how he came running to Lagos the other time when his brother claimed his building was demolished, we later got to know it wasn't even the his building but a building he was trying to achieve from the rightful owner.

He runs to Lagos each time and runs his mouth to please his minions who he know do not have the brain to think for themselves.

Despite this clarification and the facts available his headless minions will still come out to praise him and talk from their anus,