By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
These are trying times for Nigerians. The diabolical nature of mankind is in full expression. For me, it has come down to the harsh truth that I never really knew my so-called friends. It’s indeed embarrassing to come to terms with the realities I see in modern-day Nigeria.
As Thomas Paine wrote in his time, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” The one consolation as ever is this knowledge: “Even this too shall pass…”
The issue at hand does not need for me to pontificate. There was massive demolition of some buildings in the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos. The matter raised so much dust across the primordial divides of Nigeria. The talk was that the buildings were demolished because they were built without the requisite approvals. There was also talk that they were erected on canals and water channels.
Novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has always stressed that people should not depend only on the single story. It was thus quite enlightening listening to Anambra State Senator, Chief Victor Umeh, as he was interviewed on Channels TV. As much as possible, I should let Senator Umeh speak without much interjections.
In the words of Senator Umeh, “The Trade Fair Complex in Lagos is a Federal Government establishment, not a Lagos State creation. It’s under the agency of the FG, and if anyone wants to get approval to build there, he goes to Federal Government Land Registry in Ikoyi, not to the Lagos State Government Land Registry in Alausa.”
It is noteworthy that Lagos used to be the capital of Nigeria, as Abuja now is. So when some blokes start up the hokum that one man built Lagos, it’s just as well not to join forces in dabbling with hallucinations.
Senator Victor Umeh continues thus: “Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, lied that buildings are on the canal. No building there is on the drainage channel or on the canal. The Trade Fair Complex is not in the moon. Anybody can go there and see. 25th September, 2025 was the first time they went there, and the result was illegal demolition.”
Why the haste to demolish? There ought to be due processes and queries before coming to a just decision for the necessary punishment to be meted out, and that’s if Lagos State really has any stake in the federal matter.
Senator Umeh does not mince words in stressing that Lagos State has no stake in giving the approval: “It is the Federal Government that gives approvals for building on federal lands, not the states. Since 1995, the Federal Government has been giving approvals for buildings in Trade Fair Complex. Lagos State Government has not given one approval for buildings there.”
It’s my prayer that this case is not like that of Rip Van Winkle, the title character of Washington Irving’s 1819 short story, who woke up after sleeping for twenty years to meet a world he does not understand.
Let’s make more progress with Senator Umeh’s words: “There is no concurrent jurisdiction. There are Federal Government lands in all the states in Nigeria being managed by the Federal Housing Authority, and not the states, and the oversight function is done by the FG, not the state government.”
According to Senator Victor Umeh, “The Executive Director of Trade Fair Complex is shocked by that action. I am an Estate Surveyor and Valuer, and a Fellow, so I know all about land ownership and land allocation and the process. It is the Trade Fair Management Board that manages the Trade Fair Complex, not Lagos State Government.”
Senator Umeh then went ahead to cite some other demolitions, such as happened in the Abule-Ado area. He said: “This same thing happened at Abule-Ado. I am the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, and I went to Senator Gbenga Ashafa who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, on the issue of Abule-Ado building demolitions. On 25th January, 2025 , I went to Abule-Ado with the M/D Federal Housing Authority, Hon Ojo. He was shocked by his findings as he found out they lied to him that the buildings were on the canal.”
Then there is of course the ethnic dimension, and Senator Umeh told Channels TV: “Igbos in Lagos should be left alone. They import goods, clear the goods and on taking the containers to their shops, a lot of obstacles will be placed on them on the road with many levies from one pole to another. Igbos contribute to the GDP of this country . About 6.6 trillion Naira was collected by the Customs last year. Ain’t that majorly the money paid by importers for clearing their goods?”
Finally, there is the inevitable issue of bringing forth the name of Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 presidential election. The accusation this time by the Lagos State Government is that Mr Peter Obi is dabbling into sentiments.
Senator Umeh replies thusly: “It is not true. Mr Commissioner, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, should stop deceiving the people and stop playing politics over the investments of people. Obi was one of the developers of Trade Fair Complex. He has a plaza there, and over 200 shops since 1995.”
As I wrote earlier, I do not want to pontificate here. It just suffices to end by stating that it’s not the wisest thing to do burning down one’s entire house because an unwanted apparition manifested in a corner of the building.
Uzor Maxim Uzoatu is the author of God of Poetry.
