Traders Lament as Lagos Government Demolishes 19 Buildings at Trade Fair Plaza
- Nigeria News
- 26.09.2025
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- 16
Traders Lament as Lagos Government Demolishes 19 Buildings at Trade Fair Plaza
Lagos State, Nigeria — Traders and business owners at the New Mandela Plaza, within the popular Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, are counting their losses after the Lagos State Government demolished no fewer than 19 buildings under heavy security. The exercise, which took place yesterday, has sparked outrage and uncertainty among shop owners, many of whom claim they were not given prior notice.
The demolition exercise at the Trade Fair Plaza was executed with strict security measures. Convoys of trucks from the Lagos State Task Force, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and other tactical teams were stationed across the plaza. Stern-looking officers restricted access to the premises and dispersed traders who attempted to record or challenge the operation.
By the time of filing this report, several targeted buildings inside the plaza had already been reduced to rubble. Distraught traders lamented the destruction of their investments, claiming that the demolition came without adequate notice.
Many shop owners and traders at the New Mandela Plaza expressed deep frustration at the suddenness of the demolition. One trader, speaking reluctantly, said:
“We don’t even know the reason for the demolition. That’s why you see people moving up and down, asking questions.”
Another trader speculated that the affected structures may have been marked for being too close to a canal, but no official explanation had been communicated to them beforehand.
A visibly agitated plaza owner, who arrived at the scene as his shop was being demolished, shouted from his car that no notice was served before the bulldozers moved in. Several sales representatives also lamented that their bosses’ goods, still locked inside the shops, were destroyed along with the buildings.
According to several traders, at least 19 buildings, each valued at over N150 million, were affected in the demolition. One trader fumed:
“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.”
Chief Magnus Ike, Chief Executive Officer of Magnus Merchandise, watched helplessly as his multi-billion-naira property crumbled. He insisted he had federal approval for the structure:
“Honestly, I have not been served any notice from the Lagos State Government whatsoever. The only notices we get here are from the Federal Government, and we comply. This building was inspected. Even the Ministry of Environment has been here. If there is any problem, the proper thing is to notify us. You don’t just let people borrow bank money, take loans, and then crush their investment overnight.”
He dismissed claims that his property sat on a canal, gesturing around the site: “Look for yourself, there is no canal here. Whatever their reason is, due process demands notice. None was given.”
Despite the destruction, some traders remained defiant. Chief Magnus Ike declared, “Demolition or not, I will continue to build. Lagos is for all of us, we go nowhere.”
His younger brother, Mr. Magnus Ikenna, shared his shock at the sudden move:
“Even as of Wednesday, there was no sign of demolition. This morning, they just moved in with bulldozers and started tear-gassing everybody. They said we don’t have state approval, but since 2000 we’ve always dealt with the federal government here. How can the rules suddenly change overnight?”
Another trader lamented the financial toll:
“This is what somebody used years to build. Many of us borrowed from banks. Now look, how do we repay? Government should come to our aid before people start dying of heart attack.”
Amid widespread outrage, the Lagos State Government has defended its action. Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat, confirmed the exercise in a post on X (formerly Twitter). According to him, the demolition targeted:
- Illegal developments
- Structures without statutory approvals
- Defective structures
- Buildings erected on road setbacks and drainages
He added:
“The Lagos State Government can no longer fold its arms while unapproved developments block critical infrastructure and endanger lives.”
The operation was jointly carried out by the Ministry of Physical Planning, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, with security operatives on ground to provide backup.
Following the traders’ outcry, the Lagos State Government later ordered a halt to the ongoing demolitions, pending further consultations. Leadership of the market met with officials of the state government and both parties agreed to reconvene next week Tuesday.
While the demolition has already caused massive losses, traders remain hopeful that the government will provide some form of relief or compensation for their destroyed investments.
The demolition of 19 buildings at the Trade Fair Plaza underscores the growing tension between development regulation and private investment in Lagos State. While the government insists it is acting to protect public infrastructure and safety, traders say their livelihoods are at stake due to sudden and unnotified demolitions.
This incident raises broader questions about due process, transparency, and stakeholder engagement in urban planning and property regulation in Nigeria’s commercial capital. Whether the upcoming meetings between traders and government officials will lead to a resolution remains to be seen.
