By: Mandy Park
The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has strongly condemned the demolition and destruction of shops and goods at Owode Motor Spare Parts Market, Owode Onirin, in Lagos State.
This is as CHSR has written to Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urging him to intervene and restore peace as those whose shops were destroyed may become a security risk for the state, if the impasse is not properly addressed and justice given to victims.
The organization views the demolition as a “brazen act of land grabbing” that threatens the economic stability of Lagos State and violates the fundamental property rights of the legitimate land owners.
Speaking at a press conference today, Tuesday 11th March, CHSR National President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene and prevent further destruction, emphasizing that the market provides livelihoods for thousands of traders and serves as a key economic hub.
The organization also criticized the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) for extending the demolition beyond the Agbajoowo Market, which was the intended target, and into the Owode Motor Spare Part Market, resulting in the destruction of over 500 shops and goods worth billions of naira.
At the briefing venue, some of the displaced traders carried placards with inscriptions like: Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu’, Save Our Souls, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’: Give us justice, Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu’call LASBCA to order, LASBCA should be law abiding, President Tinubu should intervene on Owode spare parts market demolition among others.
CHSR expressed concern over the arrest and detention of the Association Chairman, Comrade Abiodun Hammed, and the stringent conditions imposed on him by the police, which include not intervening in market issues and not coming close to the market for weeks.
Also, in a letter addressed to Sanwo-Olu, Omotehinse, urged the governor not to allow any situation that would take means of livelihood from the traders.
The letter is entitled ” Acquaintance of Complaint of Unlawful Invasion and Wrongful Demolition of Over 500 Shops at Owode Motor Spare Parts Market, Owode Onirin Against the Lagos State Building Control Agency, and Our Subsequent Demand for your Urgent Intervention”.
Omotehinse said that the activists’ plea followed a complaint letter from the Owode Motor Spare Parts Association, and CHSR’s thorough investigation of marketers’ predicaments.
The activist said that such demolition posed a significant threat to the economic stability “of our dear state”.
According to him, the market serves as a vital hub in ensuring access to fresh produce for countless families and providing livelihoods for numerous traders.
“We hereby appeal to your excellency’s good office and person as the number one citizen of the state that holds the welfare of the citizenry in high esteem, to intervene so as not to throw the marketers into the street.
“We shall be glad if our letter can receive your urgent attention,” Omotehinse said.
He noted that the market remained an internationally recognised market that was relocated to the site from the popular Jankara market in the Lagos Island by the then Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
According to him, over the years, the traders had been law abiding. comporting themselves in an orderly manner, and had been operating and carrying out their businesses within the confine of the law.
“Owode Motor Spare Parts Market comprises six zones and each zone has over 200 shops with thousands of traders whose socioeconomic life depends on sales makes in their shop on daily basis.
“As at the time of the so-called enforcement of the said judgement, over 500 shops in the zone M and Zone 5 with goods worth billions of naira had been destroyed,” he said.
The group demanded a thorough and full investigation to be conducted to identify and prosecute those responsible for the illegal demolition.
They also demanded that the government should engage the market stakeholders to find a sustainable solution.
CHSR also urged all relevant government agencies meant for law enforcement to step up and do their constituted duty so as to protect the traders.
Some of the market executives and board members who spoke including: Chief Wasiu Awoko, Abiodun Ahmed, Elder Samuel Oluwole Garba, all pleaded with Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu’ and President Tinubu to entervene as their means of livelihood are being destroyed.
Every speaker reiterated that “on Thursday 6th March, 2025 at about 4.30am, men and officers of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, along with some policemen and hundreds of thugs armed with various dangerous weapons invaded the Owode spare parts market.”
