Trade Fair Demolitions – Law Enforcement or Big Money Waste?

Di demolition of multi-billion-naira shops for Trade Fair Complex plus 19 other buildings for Lagos don raise fresh questions on how government dey manage supposed violations of town planning rules, and how dem dey balance enforcement with fairness and economic growth. Traders and property owners dey para say di sudden action don scatter dia livelihoods, as many insist say dem either get valid approvals or no get proper notice before bulldozers enter. Lagos State Government dey maintain say di structures violate planning laws, but some owners dey claim say dem even get federal approval, which don reopen di long wahala between state and federal authority over land. People dey ask whether LASBCA and di Ministry of Physical Planning truly issue notice, to who and when, and why government wait all these years before acting. Many believe say di delay show lack of transparency, betray trust, and make government join for di same illegality wey dem dey condemn.

Beyond di legal grammar, many Nigerians dey vex over di economic waste wey follow di demolitions. For a time wey inflation don make cement, iron rod and labour cost sky-high, government action don wipe out billions of naira investment, destroy jobs, scatter small businesses and send bad signal to investors. Analysts dey argue say even if buildings truly get issues, demolition suppose be last option after dialogue, fines or adjustment, not di first weapon. Dem also point out say if government approval process still full with bureaucracy and corruption, then Lagos State too get hand for wetin cause di problem. Calls dey rise for compensation to affected traders, reform of di approval system, clear federal state land rules, and more humane enforcement methods. Many believe say di Trade Fair demolition show weak governance, lack of foresight and insensitivity to human suffering, and Lagos deserve authorities wey fit enforce law without erasing lives.