₦airaland Forum

Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has condemned the recent demolitions at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, describing them as unlawful and beyond the jurisdiction of the Lagos State Government.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Umeh said the move by the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning was “a clear breach of the law and an affront to due process.”

“The country is governed by laws and the constitution. I’m disappointed that the Commissioner for Physical Planning in Lagos State came on air to justify an illegal action,” he stated.

According to him, the Trade Fair Complex is a federal property managed by the Federal Government through the Trade Fair Management Board, and therefore not under Lagos State’s control.

“The Trade Fair Complex is a federal establishment where the Lagos State Government moved in with heavy machinery to destr%y people’s properties and investments without justification,” Umeh said. “Federal lands are managed by federal agencies, not state governments. Such properties are recorded in the Federal Land Registry in Ikoyi, not in the Lagos Land Registry in Alausa.”

Umeh, who is also a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, maintained that the state government had no authority to act on federal land. He emphasized that the Trade Fair Management Board has always handled all administrative functions, including development approvals, property rates, and ground rent.

“The Lagos State Government has never performed any of these duties there until about two weeks ago when they moved in to demolish buildings on September 25,” he said.

The senator further described the demolitions as an “intrusion,” stating that neither the board nor traders received prior notice.

Umeh also refuted claims that the demolished buildings were erected on canals or without proper approval, insisting that all structures were duly approved by the Trade Fair Management Board.

Mynd44:
Senator Umeh is right but also very wrong.

When it comes to federal government estates, and land sold by the FG the FG takes jurisdiction but only on land being developed by the FG.
Example: if the FG is building an army building inside a barracks, it is entirely on the exclusive list and the state has no say but the moment the FG sells the land to a non government party, such person(s) must get approvals from the state to build even after getting FG approvals.

This was the hubris of the builders who assumed that they had no business with the state even when the state asked that they come and apply for permits and get approval

Mynd44:
Senator Umeh is right but also very wrong.

When it comes to federal government estates, and land sold by the FG the FG takes jurisdiction but only on land being developed by the FG.
Example: if the FG is building an army building inside a barracks, it is entirely on the exclusive list and the state has no say but the moment the FG sells the land to a non government party, such person(s) must get approvals from the state to build even after getting FG approvals.

This was the hubris of the builders who assumed that they had no business with the state even when the state asked that they come and apply for permits and get approval

Ttalk:
It is SanwoOlu I blame for all these nonsense that is being thrown at Lagos. Lagosian must chose someone who will protect the interest of the state in the next election

Brendaniel:
Why didn't the state government just seal the buildings and ask all owners to go and get approvals from the state before opening the buildings?

so the best solution is to start destroying people's sweat? look at what you people are trying to defend, is the government designed to guide the people or to fight them?

Doesn't this look like vendetta?

I mean they said the people did not get approvals, why not seal the buildings and tell the people to get approvals, you people just like defending evil...

43Ronin:
They got approval from the FG, & have been paying permits to the FG there was no need for a demolition, its pure hatred, done in bad faith. If the intentions of the government was in good faith, it would have been the state asking the federal to remit such payments to the state or ask for certain accruals into the state coffers then clearly communicate to the nigerian citizens. The primary aim of govt is to secure lives & properties of its citizens not Destroy it because of common levies or taxes. Will the funds LASG get from that place be stupendous?

Mynd44:
The government gave them time to apply, some complied, others refused.

Heck they even beat up staff of the state government who went to dialogue with them last year.

What else should government do? Keep allowing illegality?

Mynd44:
No, this is false.

Under the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act of 1992, only state governments are allowed to issue building approvals whether on FG land or anywhere else. Those building must seek approvals.

Who do we blame when the developers went as far as beating up government agents last year who went to serve notices and inspect the illegality?

Brendaniel:
So because some people beat up the agents there then the best solution is demolition? what happened to arrest and prosecution?

Brendaniel:
Are you saying the people there are more powerful than the state government ?

Mynd44:
Obviously you want to ignore salient points and argue just because you want to argue.


Tell the develop to go to court. The same court the ruled that the state government has the right on building approval matters in. 2003

Mynd44:
They had ample time to comply, they had time to get approvals, I hope you know some developers did. Those don't have 2 heads do they?

Brendaniel:
So are you saying sealing the buildings wasn't an option?

Mynd44:
Why didn't Edo, Anambra and Abia state government just seal.

It isn't an option in those states?

Nigerians don't understand consequences.

Mynd44:
Senator Umeh is right but also very wrong.

When it comes to federal government estates, and land sold by the FG the FG takes jurisdiction but only on land being developed by the FG.
Example: if the FG is building an army building inside a barracks, it is entirely on the exclusive list and the state has no say but the moment the FG sells the land to a non government party, such person(s) must get approvals from the state to build even after getting FG approvals.

This was the hubris of the builders who assumed that they had no business with the state even when the state asked that they come and apply for permits and get approval

Ttalk:
It is SanwoOlu I blame for all these nonsense that is being thrown at Lagos. Lagosian must chose someone who will protect the interest of the state in the next election

Mynd44:
Senator Umeh is right but also very wrong.

When it comes to federal government estates, and land sold by the FG the FG takes jurisdiction but only on land being developed by the FG.
Example: if the FG is building an army building inside a barracks, it is entirely on the exclusive list and the state has no say but the moment the FG sells the land to a non government party, such person(s) must get approvals from the state to build even after getting FG approvals.

This was the hubris of the builders who assumed that they had no business with the state even when the state asked that they come and apply for permits and get approval

Mynd44:
Trade Fair Demolitions: Senator Umeh Condemns Lagos Government’s Action, Labels It Illegal


">https://x.com/instablog9ja/status/1975150064159879322?t=UsryrO1zMxGMfdJQcZEb-Q&s=19[/quote] hahaha this people are still crying over this demolition of properties in Lagos……is Lagos no more a no man’s land according to delusional clowns who left their neck of woods underdeveloped to come and develop another man’s land? And btw who is Umeh to come and tell Lagos govt which jurisdiction over lands in Lagos that their actions is illegal? Do the senators from Lagos concern themselves with happenings in anambala when similar demolitions was carried out in anambala? This people re really biting more than they can chew Lagos is yorubaland and all land in Lagos is under the jurisdiction of Lagos State Government and whoever is not pleased can by all means relocate there investment back to their region, no one was forced to leave their region to come and deverop lagos…..bikonu this obsession with Lagos is becoming nauseating to say the least

SonOfDSoil01:
hahaha this people are still crying over this demolition of properties in Lagos……is Lagos no more a no man’s land according to delusional clowns who left their neck of woods underdeveloped to come and develop another man’s land? And btw who is Umeh to come and tell Lagos govt which jurisdiction over lands in Lagos that their actions is illegal? Do the senators from Lagos concern themselves with happenings in anambala when similar demolitions was carried out in anambala? This people re really biting more than they can chew Lagos is yorubaland and all land in Lagos is under the jurisdiction of Lagos State Government and whoever is not pleased can by all means relocate there investment back to their region, no one was forced to leave their region to come and deverop lagos…..bikonu this obsession with Lagos is becoming nauseating to say the least

SisterAnn:
And you are obsessed with the Igbos and their language and exclamations that you speak their language "bikonu" to express yourself.

Lifestone:
The best here is to drag Lagos State Government to court and claim damages in the billions.
But my take is that, the court action should have been tested since they've been dragging this for a while.
Me think State has the jurisdiction on development and building approvals

43Ronin:
They got approval from the FG, & have been paying permits to the FG there was no need for a demolition, its pure hatred, done in bad faith. If the intentions of the government was in good faith, it would have been the state asking the federal to remit such payments to the state or ask for certain accruals into the state coffers then clearly communicate to the nigerian citizens. The primary aim of govt is to secure lives & properties of its citizens not Destroy it because of common levies or taxes. Will the funds LASG get from that place be stupendous?

SonOfDSoil01:
continue crying…..why not take the govt to court since you know the law better than the state govt? You think the law gives a hoot about your emotions? You lot are just pure ignorant and you have still not learnt anything, you can buy more land without govt approval and continue building structures and continue claiming right….the bulldozer are still very active

Ttalk:
It is SanwoOlu I blame for all these nonsense that is being thrown at Lagos. Lagosian must chose someone who will protect the interest of the state in the next election