The Lagos State Government has attacked the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, over his remarks on the demolished Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) Market, popularly known as Lagos Trade Fair, ultimately dominated by Igbos.
Speaking on behalf of the government, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, claimed in a press release that the buildings in question have no approval.
Mr. Omotoso further claimed that when Physical Planning officials visited the complex, the gates were locked against them.
He also claimed that they were beaten up and that the police had to rescue them.
According to him, the owners refused to honour government’s invitation for talks when the government called.
In the statement entitled “Peter Obi Was Wrong On Trade Fair Complex”, Omotoso stated:
“Ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has visited the Trade Fair Complex where Lagos State Government enforced its Physical Planning Laws.
“He praised the traders for what he called their “restraint”, adding that the buildings that were knocked down had approvals.
“He launched into emotional theatrics, describing the incident as “a test of impunity, justice and compassion” – all in an effort to mislead the public by misinformation and disinformation.
“This is unfair. Here are the facts of the matter: The owners of the building have no approval.
“They got ample time to regularise their papers when the state government declared last year a general amnesty, which was extended several times.
“The owners shunned the offer.
“When Physical Planning officials visited the complex, the gates were locked against them; they were beaten up.
“The police rescued them.
“When the government called the owners for talks, they said they would not come; they did not come.
“Their defence is that the Management Board of the Trade Fair permitted them to build their structures. This is wrong.
“The board, which is a creation of the Federal Government to manage the complex, does not have powers to approve or regulate building developments within the complex independent of Lagos State Government.
“Physical Planning and building approvals are within the remit of State Governments.”
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso
Omotoso further noted that all physical development in any part of Lagos must obtain planning permit/approval from the Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
This, he said, is backed by the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act (1992, as domesticated by Lagos State’s Physical Planning and Development Regulations.
According to him, the Act was reinforced by the Supreme Court judgment of 2003 (Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation) that land use and physical planning fall under concurrent jurisdiction.
Therefore, he said, states retain the authority to regulate development control within their territories, including federal lands, except for core areas like military formations or exclusive federal enclaves.
He stressed that the Trade Fair Complex Board may have right to manage leases, tenancies, and commercial activities.
However, the Lagos State planning permit still controls any such construction, alteration, or development.
Failure to do that, “such developments would be deemed illegal under state law, and the Lagos State Government has the power to seal or demolish them,” Omotoso stated.
He maintained that the Management Board can allocate spaces and give administrative consent, but that Lagos State Government issues building approvals.
“We must decide the kind of society we want – one governed by law or one run by emotions, fueled by political interests,” Omotoso charged.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) had published on September 30, 2025, that the former Governor of Anambra State decried the demolition of Lagos Trade Fair market.
Peter Obi had visited the demolished site along with some federal lawmakers and stakeholders.
He regretted “the demolished ASPAMDA Market at the Trade Fair in Lagos, where plazas were pulled down despite traders having obtained the requisite approvals”.
He commended the traders for showing remarkable restraint and calm in the face of such provocation.
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