Business

Lagos Govt demolishes 19 Buildings at Trade Fair Complex

It was gathered from distraught traders that no fewer than 19 buildings valued at over N150 each were affected by the exercise.

Published

11 months ago

September 25, 2025

OCHEFA

518 Views

The Lagos State Government on Thursday pulled down more than nineteen buildings at the New Mandela Plaza, within the popular Trade Fair Complex in Lagos.

The demolition exercise was carried out with a heavy security presence from the Lagos State Task Force, Rapid Response Squad, and tactical teams stationed around the plaza.

The stern-looking officers restricted access to the premises and sent away traders who attempted to record the exercise.

At the time of filing this report, selective buildings inside the plaza were already reduced to rubble, sparking outrage from shop owners who claimed they were not served prior notice.

One trader, who spoke out of frustration said: “We don’t even know the reason for the demolition. That’s why you see people moving up and down, asking questions.”

Another speculated that the affected structures might have been marked for being too close to a canal.

A visibly agitated plaza owner, who arrived while his shop was being pulled down, screamed from his car that no notice was served before the bulldozers moved in.

Some sales representatives lamented that their bosses’ goods, still locked up inside the shops, were destroyed alongside the buildings.

It was gathered from distraught traders that no fewer than 19 buildings valued at over N150 each were affected by the exercise.

“If government doesn’t want companies or development here, they should just come out and say it. People have invested their life savings here. Over 19 buildings are in that plaza”, one trader said angrily.

Related Topics:Demolition of New Mandela plaza Lagos trade fair complex Featured

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Cybercriminals cloning DStv, other brands to steal bank accounts across Africa

According to cybersecurity company NordVPN, the campaign distributes Remote Access Trojans (RATs) and banking trojans, forms of malware that can give criminals control over infected devices and access to sensitive information.

Published

3 days ago

August 21, 2026

OCHEFA

37 Views

Cybercriminals are impersonating popular companies and government agencies across Africa in a campaign designed to take over smartphones and bank accounts.

More than 100 fake websites linked to the malware campaign have been identified since August 2025.

Brands including DStv, Takealot and South African Airways, as well as the South African Revenue Service (SARS), are being used to make fraudulent messages and websites appear legitimate.

The attacks are particularly concerning in South Africa, where Android dominates the mobile operating system market.

NordVPN said the attacks typically begin with social engineering, where criminals send convincing messages through SMS, WhatsApp or social media.

The messages may contain urgent offers or requests involving job opportunities, tax refunds, identity renewals or pension verification.

Victims are then directed to fake websites designed to closely resemble the official websites of trusted organisations.

The sites encourage users to download an Android application. Once installed, the malicious software can operate quietly in the background, including after the smartphone is restarted.

Business

Cement price hits N16,000 per bag

The current cement prices mark a steep rise from late 2024, when a bag sold for around N7,500.

Published

3 days ago

August 21, 2026

OCHEFA

42 Views

• Chairman of BUA cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR)

Cement dealers across Nigeria have announced fresh price increases, with a 50kg bag now selling for as much as N16,000 in some markets, up from N13,000 recorded by buyers just days earlier.

The current cement prices mark a steep rise from late 2024, when a bag sold for around N7,500.

By the third quarter of 2025, that had risen to about N9,000 before reaching the N12,000 to N16,000 range now seen across different locations.

Other building materials have followed a similar upward path. Blocks have climbed from around N600 to N1,100 each.

Sand has gone from N165,000 to N250,000 per 30 tonnes. Granite has risen from N530,000 to N780,000 per 30 tonnes.

Reinforcing steel now costs N1.15 million per tonne, up from N850,000.