News

Peter Obi Reacts to Recent demolition on Alaba market demolition by Lagos govt

Published

3 years ago

June 27, 2023

647 Views

Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, has reacted to the recent demolition of some buildings at the Alaba International Market by the Lagos State Government.

Obi said although some of the demolitions might be excusable, they had left many victims, mostly ordinary people who he believed were either innocently ill-informed or misguided.

He said the primary duty of any government is to care for and protect its citizens.

In a statement issued via his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor advised that “necessary corrective measures to planning or zoning violations by governments, need not be punitive or unduly insensitive.”

Recall that the Lagos Government had on June 16 begun the removal of what it described as distressed buildings in the Alaba International Market located in the Ojo Local Government Area of the state.

DAILY POST reports that the enforcement team of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA and the Lagos State Task Force embarked on the joint exercise.

Following the controversy that trailed the exercise, the government insisted that the exercise was a measure to prevent disaster.

However, Obi maintained that Nigerian citizens should not be subjected to the additional stress of unexpected hardship.

The statement read: “Recently, there have been reports of widespread government demolition of so-called ‘illegal’ structures erected by some innocent Nigerian citizens in error. We face a paradox: with a 70 million housing deficit and vast unmet housing needs nationwide, some resort to self-help by building structures that serve as homes, businesses, SMEs offices and stores. Invariably, some of these structures were either not approved or were built with the tacit collusion or approval of the local authorities.

“While some of these ongoing demolitions may be excusable, they have nonetheless, left many victims, mostly ordinary people who erred innocently or were ill-informed or misguided. Necessary corrective measures to planning or zoning violations by governments need not be punitive or unduly insensitive.

“There should always be room for compassion and humane correction in taking any remedial action. I respectfully appeal to various governmental authorities to marry the need to enforce compliance with extant regulatory regimes, with consideration for human feelings and necessary compassion.

“In Nigeria, we live in a time of extreme difficulties for citizens because of stagnated income, spiralling inflation, huge unemployment escalating socio-economic costs and high costs of living.

“Nigerian citizens should therefore, not be subjected to the additional stress of unexpected hardship. Moreover, the various concerned governments should consider paying compensation to those who have lost properties and livelihoods in these unfortunate demolitions to ameliorate their suffering. Such compensation should fall under the rubric of eminent domain that is applicable for properties and assets acquired or demolished in the public interest.

“It cannot ever be overemphasized that the primary duty of any government is the responsibility to care for and protect her citizens.”

News

Urbanisation: Lagos To Fall Behind Luanda as sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest city by 2050

The report titled ‘Sub-Saharan Africa’s Urban Awakening: Catalyzing Economic Growth and Job Creation’, also calculated that sub-Saharan Africa’s urban population will increase by 748 million between 2025 and 2050, reaching about 1.7 billion.

Published

10 hours ago

November 2, 2026

OCHEFA

Lagos announces eight month traffic diversion on Lekki Ajah corridor 696x392 1

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A report conducted by the World Bank and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, has projected that Angola’s capital, Luanda,will overtake Lagos as sub-Saharan Africa’s most populous city by 2050, rising by 78 percent from 11.4 million to 20.3 million.

The report estimated that Luanda’s population would increase from 11.4 million in 2025 to 20.3 million in 2050, adding 8.9 million residents over the period.

Lagos, the region’s most populous city in 2025 with an estimated 12.8 million residents, is projected to grow to 16.2 million by 2050, an increase of more than 25 percent.

Despite the growth, Lagos is expected to fall behind Luanda, whose population is projected to exceed that of Nigeria’s commercial hub by 4.1 million.

“Over this period, the population of Angola’s capital city, Luanda, is projected to increase by 78 percent from 11.4 million to 20.3 million.

In doing so, Luanda will overtake Lagos as SSA’s most populous city,” the report said.

News

President Tinubu Performing Umrah

The President is expected to return to Nigeria next week after completing the religious exercise.

Published

4 days ago

October 30, 2026

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Photo: President Tinubu I Makkah

President Bola Tinubu on Friday commenced performing Umrah at Makkah in Saudi Arabia, praying for the nation and for every Nigerian to live in peace and harmony.

Tinubu on Thursday evening arrived in Saudi Arabia, landing at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

He was received by Nigeria’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yakubu Gambo, and the Saudi head of royal protocol Ahmad bin Thafir.

Thursday’s trip marks the second time Tinubu has travelled to Makkah to perform Umrah since assuming office on May 29, 2023.

President Tinubu visited the holy city in November 2023, shortly after attending the Saudi-African Summit in Riyadh, where he also prayed for divine guidance in leading Nigeria.

The latest trip is part of a series of foreign engagements undertaken by Tinubu since becoming president. He has visited more than 30 countries in over 50 unique and recurring trips.

The President is expected to return to Nigeria next week after completing the religious exercise.

News

State police ready by December — Senate Leader

Highlighting the historic milestone, Bamidele explained that the 30 state approvals comfortably satisfy the two-thirds concurrency requirement mandated by Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Published

4 days ago

October 30, 2026

OCHEFA

73 Views

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has expressed conviction that the proposed state police will be ready on or before December 2026, given that 30 State Houses of Assembly have officially approved the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill, 2026.

Speaking on the Bill on Thursday, the Leader of the Senate declared that multi-tier policing in Nigeria has moved from a recurring political promise into an actionable constitutional reality.

Bamidele, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, made the disclosure while delivering a paper at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.

He addressed participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 48 on the topic, “Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Governance through Proactive Lawmaking.”