The Lagos State Government, with a heavy security presence, has demolished over 19 buildings at the New Mandela Plaza within the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos. The demolition exercise, carried out on Thursday, has sparked outrage among affected traders and business owners who claim they were not given prior notice.
The operation was conducted under the protection of a convoy of trucks from the Lagos State Task Force, the Rapid Response Squad, and other tactical teams, who restricted access to the plaza and prevented traders from documenting the event. While there has been no official statement from the Lagos State Government regarding the reason for the demolition, some traders speculated that the structures were marked for being too close to a canal or for failing to comply with building regulations.
The demolition is the latest in a series of similar actions by the Lagos State Government aimed at enforcing urban planning laws and clearing what it terms as illegal structures. The government has in the past stated that such exercises are necessary to prevent building collapses, ensure public safety, and address environmental issues like flooding. However, the recurring theme in these demolitions is the outcry from affected property owners and traders who often report a lack of adequate notice, leading to the destruction of goods and investments worth millions of naira.
