Peter Obi Condemns Lagos Trade Fair Demolitions, Urges Govt to Show Compassion

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the demolition of private properties by government agencies, describing the actions as “unlawful, insensitive, and deeply inhumane.”

Obi, in a post shared via his verified X handle on Monday, said it was disturbing that authorities could destroy people’s homes and businesses without adequate notice or alternative arrangements, especially amid worsening poverty and inflation.

His comments followed the recent demolition of shopping plazas at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos State, by a joint team of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Urban Renewal Agency, and the Physical Planning Permit Authority.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said it was unacceptable for government institutions to demolish people’s property when citizens were already struggling under the weight of harsh economic realities.

“This is happening across the country at a time when the government is supposed to be lifting citizens out of poverty. Instead, it is plunging them deeper into hardship,” he wrote.

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“These demolitions destroy livelihoods, undermine businesses, and threaten the economic security of hardworking citizens,” he added.

The Labour Party standard-bearer argued that government agencies must show empathy and respect for due process, particularly in situations where livelihoods were at stake.

“The willful destruction of people’s homes, shops, and goods by government agencies remains deeply condemnable,” he said. “Such actions are unacceptable, especially under an administration whose policies have already pushed millions of Nigerians into poverty within just 29 months.”

Obi urged both federal and state governments to reconsider such harsh enforcement methods and instead explore policies that support struggling families and small business owners.

“At a time when inflation has eroded people’s savings, unemployment is at record highs, and millions are living below the poverty line, demolitions should not be the first option,” he cautioned.

He emphasised that governance should focus on compassion, fairness, and relief, not actions that worsen people’s misery.

“The government should prioritise compassion and relief measures for struggling families rather than compounding their hardship,” Obi advised.

Background: Lagos trade fair demolitions spark outrage

The recent demolitions at the Trade Fair Complex have generated outrage among traders and business owners, many of whom claimed they were neither served prior notice nor given time to remove their goods.

The operation, according to eyewitnesses, involved multiple government agencies who cited violations of building regulations and encroachment on state land.

Traders have since called for compensation, alleging that the exercise was politically motivated and carried out with unnecessary force.

Public reaction

Obi’s comments have drawn widespread support on social media, with many Nigerians applauding him for speaking up against what they described as “anti-people” government actions.

Some users called for judicial intervention and legislative oversight, while others urged state governments to focus on improving infrastructure and supporting small businesses instead of tearing them down.

PUNCH-style headline suggestions

Obi Knocks Govt Over Lagos Demolitions, Says Nigerians Pushed Into More Hardship

‘Insensitive and Unlawful’: Peter Obi Blasts Govt Over Demolition of Traders’ Plazas

Obi Condemns Lagos Trade Fair Demolitions, Urges Govt to Show Compassion

Stop Destroying People’s Livelihoods, Obi Tells Govt Amid Economic Hardship

Demolitions Deepen Poverty, Threaten Small Businesses — Peter Obi