According to a report by Channels Television in Tuesday, October 7, 2025, former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over the recent demolition of the ASPAMDA Market at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, urging that legal procedures should not be prioritized over moral responsibility.
Obi spoke days after visiting the site of the demolished traders’ plazas, stressing that government actions should respect human dignity and protect livelihoods whenever possible.
Obi criticized the destruction of the market as a measure that tests the government’s commitment to justice, equity, and fairness.
He argued that enforcing the law should not result in unnecessary harm to citizens, especially when alternatives exist that could achieve compliance without causing widespread losses.
The former governor emphasized that policies should balance legality with social responsibility to prevent avoidable suffering.
The Lagos State government had defended the demolition, stating that the exercise was technical and not aimed at targeting any specific ethnic or community group.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olumide Oluyinka, maintained that the action followed standard procedures, although the decision drew criticism from affected traders and observers who saw it as heavy-handed.
In a statement shared on his X handle on Tuesday, Obi warned that laws should never be applied in ways that cause undue pain or destroy livelihoods.
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He highlighted the importance of considering less destructive alternatives before resorting to demolitions, noting that responsible governments pursue regularization processes or provide opportunities for compliance rather than immediate enforcement that disrupts communities.
He said, “Even if, for the sake of argument, some of the affected traders failed to obtain the proper approvals, which is unlikely, was demolition the only option? If opportunities for regularisation truly existed, as some have argued, why were they not pursued? Does it truly serve justice to destroy billions of naira worth of investments and livelihoods when less destructive remedies could have sufficed?.”
To underscore his point, Obi recounted personal experiences overseas, stressing that functional administrations prioritize due process over abrupt destruction.
He questioned whether demolition was truly the only option, noting that many affected traders may have had the chance to regularize their businesses.
Obi argued that destroying billions of naira worth of investments in a single action raises concerns about justice and governance, calling for more thoughtful approaches that safeguard both law and human welfare.Continue, Full, Reading>>>>
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