Traders Dey Complain As Lagos Govt Demolish 19 Buildings For Trade Fair Plaza

No less than 19 buildings chop demolition yesterday for New Mandela Plaza inside di popular Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, as Lagos State government land with heavy security to carry out di operation. Dem carry out di demolition under heavy security, as plenty trucks from Lagos State Task Force, Rapid Response Squad, and other tactical teams park full everywhere around di plaza. Security officers wey no dey smile block people from entering di area and scatter traders wey try use phone record wetin dey happen. By di time wey dem dey write dis report, many of di buildings wey dem target inside di plaza don already turn to rubble. Dis one cause serious anger for shop owners, plenty of dem talk say dem no get any warning before di demolition start. One trader wey no gree talk, yarn  say: “We no even sabi why dem demolish di place. Na why you see people just dey waka up and down, dey ask question.” Another person guess say maybe na because di buildings too near canal. One plaza owner wey vex come the scene as dem dey scatter him shop, shout from inside him motor say: Dem no give anybody notice o! Some sales reps still dey complain say dia oga goods wey still lock inside shops follow go down as building collapse. Traders wey don break down talk say no less than 19 buildings each one worth over ₦150 million follow for di demolition. One trader wey vex talk say: “If government no want companies or development for here, make dem just talk am straight. People don put dia life savings for dis place. Over 19 buildings dey inside that plaza!” Another trader, Chief Magnus Ike, wey be CEO of Magnus Merchandise, stand dey look as bulldozers scatter im multi-billion-naira property like say na sand. Im talk say: “Honestly, Lagos State Government never give me any notice at all. Na only Federal Government dey send us notice here, and we dey always comply. Dem don inspect dis building. Even Ministry of Environment don come here before. If wahala dey, di right thing na to tell us. You no go just allow person borrow bank money, collect loan finish, then destroy im investment overnight.

Dey reject talk say im property dey near canal, im wave hand around and talk: “Look yourself, no canal dey here. Whatever reason dem get, proper process require say dem must give notice. But none come.” Still, as im stand firm for inside the rubble, im talk: “Demolition or no demolition, I go still continue to build. Lagos na for all of us, we no go gree comot.”  Im younger brother, Mr. Magnus Ikenna, sef dey very upset. im talk: “Even as of Wednesday, no sign say demolition go happen. Dis morning, dem just waka come with bulldozers, begin tear-gas everybody. Dem talk say we no get state approval, but since 2000, na only federal government we dey deal with here. How rules fit just change like that overnight? As im point to the rubble, im add: Dis na wetin person take years build. Many of us borrow money from banks. Now see as e be, how we go repay? Government suppose help us before people start die of heart attack. Even as traders dey vex, Lagos State Government stand gidigba. Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat, confirm the demolition for post for X. According to am, demolition target “illegal developments, structures wey no get proper approval, bad structures, and buildings wey dem put for road setback and drainages. Lagos State Government no fit just siddon look as unapproved buildings dey block important infrastructure and put people life for danger, he talk. Dem carry out di demolition exercise together, Ministry of Physical Planning, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, and Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority join hand, plus security people wey dey for ground to back dem up. Later, Lagos State Government tell make dem stop the demolition, and all ongoing construction work must halt. Market leaders meet with Lagos State Government officials, and dem agree to hold another meeting next Tuesday.