Traders Protest at Lagos State Assembly Against Demolition of Shops at Owode-Onirin Market
Traders from the Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market gathered at the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest the demolition of 500 shops within their market. The demonstration highlighted the traders’ determination to protect their livelihoods and the importance of the market to the local economy.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, association chairman Mr. Hammed Abiodun emphasized the market’s role as a crucial hub for spare parts, vital to the sustenance of numerous families and traders in the community. The demonstrators carried placards with slogans such as “IGP, tell Police to stay away from land matters” and “Obasa, stand up for Owode traders.”
Abiodun called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene and halt any actions that threaten the livelihoods of thousands relying on the market. He demanded a comprehensive investigation into the alleged illegal demolition, insisting that the traders had always operated within the bounds of the law and maintained orderly businesses for many years.
According to Abiodun, chaos ensued on Thursday, March 6, when officers of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), accompanied by armed policemen and individuals he described as thugs, stormed the market. He claimed they were enforcing a court judgment concerning the nearby Agbajowo Market, despite Owode-Onirin being owned by the Lagos State Government.
“There is no court injunction, nor do we have any legal dispute with any family or individuals,” he asserted, characterizing the demolitions as unjustified and unlawful. The traders reportedly received no prior notice to vacate their shops or remove their belongings, prompting their urgent appeals for intervention from President Bola Tinubu and the Lagos State governor.
Alex Omotehinse, President of the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), condemned the demolition as an illegal act aimed at impoverishing the traders and violating property rights. He criticized the actions as part of a broader pattern of land grabbing that threatens the state’s economic stability and called for compensation for the affected traders to ensure they can continue their businesses.
Another trader, Mr. Samuel Oluwole, reiterated that market traders consistently fulfill their tax obligations to the Lagos State Government. “We are taxpayers. We pay our taxes as required. Every shop, including places of worship, was demolished. We plead with the Lagos State Government to rescue us from intimidation and persecution,” he urged.
Lagos Mainland Constituency II lawmaker Mr. Adebola Shabi addressed the protesters, commending their peaceful demonstration and expressing understanding for their plight. He assured them that Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and other House members were sympathetic to their situation and would take necessary action.
“This is your House, and you will get justice. The Assembly believes in fairness,” Shabi stated, promising a thorough investigation into the demolition. He confirmed that all stakeholders would be summoned once the Assembly resumes fully, assuring the protesters that their concerns would receive expedited attention.