”Was it considered illegal when Otti and Soludo carried out demolitions of illegal structures in their respective states?” – Lagos Commissioner takes on those against demolitions in the state
Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has slammed critics of the ongoing demolitions at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex, saying “every Tom, Dick, and Harry” now has an opinion on the issue.
Wahab’s reaction followed comments by Senator Victor Umeh, who described the demolitions as unlawful and outside Lagos State’s jurisdiction since the complex is a federal property managed by the Trade Fair Management Board.
Responding via X, Wahab argued that the property, being located within Lagos, falls under the state’s planning and environmental control laws. He stressed that while the federal board may manage leases and tenancies, any construction or alteration still requires a Lagos State planning permit.
He also questioned whether it was considered illegal when Governors Alex Otti and Charles Soludo carried out demolitions of illegal structures in their respective states.
“The Trade Fair Complex is a federal establishment where the Lagos State Government moved in with heavy machinery to destroy people’s properties and investments without justification. Federal lands are managed by federal agencies, not state governments. Such properties are recorded in the Federal Land Registry in Ikoyi, not in the Lagos Land Registry in Alausa.” he said
