By Olanrewaju Adesanya
A group-Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) has urged the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to halt further demolition of Owode Motor Spare Part Market by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
CSHR President Comrade Alex Omotehinse along side market leaders and other rights advocacy groups made the call at a press conference held at zone 4 hall of the Owode motor spare part market Owode Onirin area of Lagos, on Tuesday to seek redress for alleged unlawful encroachment and demolition of properties.
The group berates LASBCA for the act perpetrated on the hitherto law-abiding marketers whose peace and ease of doing business got short-lived by the lethal invasion of the markets space.
Corroborating the group stance, Comrade Shina Loremikan noted that there is no justifiable reason to dispossess the traders of their means of livelihood, adding that Owode Onirin remains a pride for commoners who needed spare parts for their vehicles and given their long time of existence they remain a port of call for all.
“On Thursday 6th day of March 2025 at about 4:30 the men and officers of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) along with some policemen and hundreds of thugs armed with various dangerous weapon invaded the Owode Market, with the aim of carrying out an enforcement of a certain court judgement against a section of the market i.e Agbajoowo market that shares a common boundary with the Owode motor spare part market.”
CHSR stressed that though the said Agbajoowo market had long years of legal battle on land ownership matter, there is no discrepancy on the boundary.
According to the traders, “LASBCA as a government agency stormed into our market in a gestapo manner with retinue of unofficial men to demolish more than 500 shops in a jiffy.
“Owode Motor Spare Part market comprises six zones, each zone has over 200 shops with thousands of traders whose socio-economic life depends on sales made daily in their shops.”
One of the market leaders Mr. Abiodun Ahmed expressed his surprise that without a prior notice the demolition exercise was carried out thereby dispossessing lots of traders their space in the market.
Alhaji Wasiu Awoko a member of the market’s Board of Trustee and active party man noted that the council boss Mayor Dele Oshinowo betrays their trust and support by ignoring moves to stall the clear invasion of the market, he urged him to address their plight going by their unflinching support for him in time past during electioneering campaigns.
“See this T-shirt with Mayor Dele Oshinowo’s picture boldly printed which we bankrolled when he was jostling for the office, this our support should not be forgotten.”
The CHSR headship Comrade Omotehinse hinted that, “On the said enforcement of judgement on Agbajoowo market by LASBCA, the agency trespassed and demolished over 400 shops in the zone M and zone 5 with goods worth billions of naira.
“We condemn the action and in-action of the illegal encroachment, demolition of properties at the market coupled with arrest and detention of leaders and demands immediate action.
“This brazen act of land grabbing not only violates the fundamental property rights of the legitimate land owners but also poses a significant threat to the economic stability of our community.
“The market serves as a vital hub in ensuring access to spare parts for countless families and providing livelihoods for numerous traders.”
He further reeled out the group’s demands; the protection of rule of law as property rights enshrined in the constitution regarding illegal encroachment given the importance of markets in our local economy, that Lagos State government conduct a thorough and impartial investigation on the market demolition and institute a bureau on the role of LASBCA instead of established agency in enforcing court judgement.
The group however, urge relevant government agencies meant for law enforcement to step-up and do there constituted duty so as to protect the traders to avoid been thrown into the street.
It also calls for a thorough and full investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible for the illegal demolition of Owode motor spare part marketer shops, adding that government should engage the market stakeholders to find a sustainable solution that respects the rule of law and protects the interests of all parties.
