Demolitions: Obi wrong on Trade Fair Complex — Lagos Commissioner Omotoso

…Clarifies presumption connected approvals

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS — The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, has faulted the comments made by the 2023 Labour Party statesmanlike candidate, Peter Obi, connected the demolition of structures astatine the Trade Fair Complex, insisting that the State Government lone enforced its Physical Planning Laws.

Obi had visited the complex, wherever helium praised traders for their “restraint” and alleged that the demolished buildings had due approvals. He further described the workout arsenic “a trial of impunity, justness and compassion.”

But Omotoso, successful a connection connected Wednesday, dismissed Obi’s remarks arsenic misleading and unfair.

“Obi, portion trying to whip up sentiment, sought to misinform the nationalist by claiming the demolished buildings had approvals. This is simply not true,” Omotoso stated.

He clarified that the affected structures had nary valid support and that their owners ignored aggregate opportunities to regularise their documents.

“The owners got ample clip to regularise their papers erstwhile the authorities authorities declared a wide amnesty past year, which was extended respective times. They shunned the offer. Instead, erstwhile Physical Planning officials visited, they were locked out, beaten, and had to beryllium rescued by the police. They besides ignored invitations to dialog with the government,” helium explained.

Omotoso stressed that the Federal Government’s Trade Fair Complex Management Board lacked the powers to assistance gathering approvals autarkic of the Lagos State Government.

He cited the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act (1992), arsenic domesticated by Lagos State’s regulations, which requires each carnal developments successful the authorities to get readying permits from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

The Commissioner further referenced a 2003 Supreme Court judgement (Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation), which reaffirmed states’ authorization to modulate improvement wrong their territories, including national lands, but successful strictly exclusive national enclaves specified arsenic subject formations.

“The Board whitethorn allocate spaces and negociate leases, but gathering approvals indispensable walk done the Lagos State Government. Otherwise, specified developments stay amerciable and taxable to demolition nether authorities law,” Omotoso stated.

He concluded with a telephone for respect for the regularisation of instrumentality implicit governmental sentiments.

“We indispensable determine the benignant of nine we privation — 1 governed by instrumentality oregon 1 tally by emotions, fueled by governmental interests.”

The station Demolitions: Obi incorrect connected Trade Fair Complex — Lagos Commissioner Omotoso appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.