Senator Umeh Voices Disappointment Over Lagos Trade Fair Complex Demolition

Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central, has called the demolition of a few buildings at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos an act of impunity.

He declared that the Lagos State government’s action was unlawful and blatantly beyond of its jurisdiction.

Senator Umeh said that the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning did not have the legal authority to authorize the demolition project during his appearance on Monday’s episode of Channels Television’s breakfast show, The Morning Brief.

“What the Commissioner for Physical Planning in Lagos State did was an affront and a breach of the law.

The problem is how to treat people while taking the law into account. Both the constitution and a body of laws govern the nation.

Umeh stated, “I am disappointed to learn that the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning came to defend his unlawful action.”

The former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) maintained that the Trade Fair Complex is still a federal facility that is run by the federal government rather than the state governments.

The Lagos State Government invaded the Trade Fair Complex with large machinery to demolish people’s buildings and investments without cause.

The federal government, not state governments, is in charge of federal lands. Both state and federal lands exist. Any property owned by the Federal Government in Lagos is listed in the Federal Land Registry in Ikoyi rather than the Land Registry in Alausa, the senator stated.

He went on to say that the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning had broken the law with his actions.

As the Trade Fair Management Board has been exclusively in charge of managing the complex, including approving developments, setting property rates, and collecting ground rent, he said the state government’s actions constituted an infringement.

“What the Commissioner for Physical Planning in Lagos State did was an affront and a breach of the law.

He said, “Until they moved in to demolish the buildings on September 25th, about two weeks ago, the Lagos State Government had never gone there to carry out any of those functions.”

He said that prior to the buildings being demolished, the complex’s merchants and store owners were not given enough notice.

Senator Umeh further dismissed reports that the affected buildings were constructed on canals and drainages without approval, insisting that all affected buildings were approved by the Trade Fair Management Board.”

“The Lagos State Government’s ability to move in there without warning also astounded them. “Not even the traders were written to or questioned about anything,” he claimed.