Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is under fire following the demolition of over 500 shops at Owode Motor Spare Part Market, Owode Onirin. The demolition, carried out by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), has sparked outrage among traders who are demanding justice and intervention from the government.
According to reports, LASBCA officials, accompanied by police officers and armed individuals, stormed the market in the early hours of Thursday, March 6, 2025. The agency was allegedly enforcing a court judgment against the neighboring Agbajoowo Market. However, traders claim that LASBCA wrongfully extended the exercise to Owode Market, leading to the destruction of hundreds of shops and goods worth billions of naira.
The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has condemned the demolition, calling it a “brazen act of land grabbing” that threatens the economic stability of Lagos. In a petition to Governor Sanwo-Olu, CHSR President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, highlighted the devastating impact on traders and urged the governor to intervene to prevent further hardship.
“The market provides livelihoods for thousands of traders and serves as a key economic hub. This act of destruction is not only unjust but also a violation of the fundamental rights of the affected traders,” Omotehinse stated.
The traders also alleged that security operatives targeted their association chairman, Comrade Abiodun Hammed, who was arrested and detained at FCID Alagbon before being granted bail. The police reportedly placed strict conditions on his release, barring him from the market and restricting his involvement in market affairs.
Owode Market, originally relocated from Jankara Market under the administration of Lateef Jakande in the 1980s, is recognized as a major commercial hub for motor spare parts. Traders argue that they have lawfully operated in the market for decades and are now left stranded with no means to recover their losses.
CHSR is demanding immediate government intervention, emphasizing that the affected traders deserve fair treatment under the law.
“This illegal demolition has pushed hundreds of families into economic despair. We urge Governor Sanwo-Olu to take swift action to address this injustice and prevent further destruction,” the organization stated.
As tensions rise, all eyes are on the Lagos State Government to see how it will respond to the traders’ demands and whether justice will be served for those affected by the demolition.
