By Sesi Noah Chaos erupted yesterday at the New Mandela Plaza inside the popular Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, after the Lagos State Governmen...
By Sesi Noah
Chaos erupted yesterday at the New Mandela Plaza inside the popular Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, after the Lagos State Government demolished no fewer than 19 buildings under heavy security.
According to vanguard convoys of trucks from the Task Force, Rapid Response Squad, and other security teams barricaded the area while stern-looking officers blocked access and dispersed traders who tried to capture the operation on their phones. By the time reporters got there, several buildings had already been reduced to rubble, leaving traders devastated and angry.
Many shop owners said they got no prior notice. One trader, looking lost, said: “We don’t even know why they’re demolishing these buildings. That’s why you see everyone running around, asking questions.” Another speculated that the buildings might have been marked for being too close to a canal.
A plaza owner, who arrived just as his shop was being destroyed, shouted from his car that he was never served any notice. Others lamented that valuable goods, still locked inside shops, had been destroyed along with the buildings. Traders claimed each of the demolished buildings was worth over ₦150 million, describing the action as an attack on their life savings.
Chief Magnus Ike, CEO of Magnus Merchandise, whose multi-billion-naira property was among those demolished, was visibly shaken. He insisted he had all necessary federal approvals:
“Honestly, Lagos State never gave me any notice. This building was inspected and cleared by federal agencies. Even the Ministry of Environment has visited. If there’s a problem, the right thing is to notify us. You don’t let people take loans and then crush their investments overnight.”
Rejecting claims that his property sat on a canal, he pointed around the rubble: “There is no canal here. Whatever their reason is, due process demands notice. None was given.”
His brother, Mr. Magnus Ikenna, added bitterly: “As of Wednesday, there was no sign of demolition. This morning they just stormed in with bulldozers and started tear-gassing everybody. They’re now saying we don’t have state approval, but since 2000 we’ve always dealt with the federal government here. How can the rules change overnight?”
Despite the outrage, the Lagos State Government defended the demolition. Governor Sanwo-Olu’s aide, Jubril Gawat, confirmed the exercise in a post on X, explaining that the crackdown targeted illegal developments, defective structures, and buildings erected on road setbacks and drainages.
“The state cannot fold its arms while unapproved developments block critical infrastructure and endanger lives,” he said.
The operation was carried out jointly by several state planning and urban renewal agencies, backed by security operatives. However, after the outcry, the state government ordered the demolition exercise to stop temporarily and directed that all ongoing constructions be halted.
Leaders of the market have since met with government officials, with both parties agreeing to reconvene next Tuesday.
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