By John Umeh
The Lagos State Government on Thursday, September 25, intensified its urban renewal and enforcement drive with the demolition of more than 19 buildings at the New Mandela Plaza, inside the bustling Trade Fair Complex along Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
According to state officials, the exercise was targeted at structures erected without statutory approvals, buildings constructed on road setbacks and drainage channels, and those found to be structurally defective.
The joint operation was carried out by the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), and the Office of Infrastructure. Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly also accompanied the enforcement team, supported by security operatives who ensured the demolition proceeded without interruption.
For many traders and property owners at the plaza, the sight of bulldozers tearing down their investments was nothing short of devastating. A trader, visibly shaken, lamented that each affected building was worth over ₦150 million, noting that years of savings and hard-earned capital were now reduced to rubble.
“If government doesn’t want companies or developers here, they should just come out and say it,” the trader fumed. “People have invested their life savings here. Over 19 buildings are gone just like that.”
The demolition has sparked fresh debates on the balance between urban planning enforcement and the economic realities of small business owners and investors in Lagos. While government officials insist the exercise is part of efforts to restore order to the city’s physical planning landscape, affected occupants are demanding clearer communication and possible compensation for their losses.
