Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the demolition of plazas at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex, describing the exercise as unlawful and economically harmful.
The demolition, carried out by officials of the Lagos Ministry of Physical Planning, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, affected several traders at the complex.
Obi, who visited the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) section of the market on Tuesday in company of Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) and Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), said the buildings were pulled down despite having valid approvals.
He commended the traders for maintaining calm in the face of their losses and disclosed that some senators and members of the House of Representatives had pledged to investigate the demolitions to determine the circumstances and prevent a recurrence.
Obi urged governments at all levels to act with fairness and compassion, noting that many of the affected traders had invested heavily, in some cases through loans, in pursuit of their livelihoods.
“To destroy such legitimate investments without due process is not only unjust but also economically destructive,” he said, stressing that societies seeking progress must protect enterprise, encourage productivity, and uphold the dignity of citizens.
