Outrage Grows Over Owode Onirin Demolition as Traders Demand Justice, Transparency

Outrage Grows Over Owode Onirin Demolition as Traders Demand Justice, Transparency

The recent demolition of over 500 shops at the Owode Motor Spare Parts Market, along Ikorodu Road in Lagos, has sparked growing anger and calls for justice from affected traders, civil rights groups, and concerned Lagosians.

Speaking during a press briefing held at the market, Comrade Alex Omotehise, President of the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), condemned the Lagos State Government’s actions, describing the demolition as a reckless and inhumane move that has thrown thousands of families into sudden hardship.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu must not look away while this act of economic violence festers,” Omotehise warned. “The State must not breed chaos and anarchy by ignoring the plight of law-abiding citizens who have contributed for decades to the economy of Lagos.”

He described how the traders, many of whom had relocated to Owode from the defunct Jankara market under the administration of Late Governor Lateef Jakande, had built livelihoods over several decades, all of which were erased in a matter of hours during the March 6 demolition carried out by heavily armed security agents and officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

“The government’s silence and lack of engagement with the traders since the incident is deeply troubling,” Omotehise said, adding that CHSR has taken multiple steps in pursuit of justice, including peaceful protests and the submission of petitions to the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Office of the Governor.

CHSR is now calling for immediate action from the state government to prevent further damage to public trust and livelihoods. Their demands include:

• Inclusion of the leadership of Owode Motor Spare Parts Market Association and elected representatives of the affected traders in all negotiations and planning processes.
• A transparent and comprehensive compensation framework that reflects the real-time value of demolished shops, goods, and potential lost income.
• Public acknowledgment of the economic and emotional trauma inflicted on thousands of families, with a commitment to ensuring such demolitions are not repeated without proper consultation and redress mechanisms.

Omotehise emphasized that the government cannot claim to be pursuing urban renewal or justice while sidelining the very people who are victims of its policies.

Observers say the demolition of Owode Onirin Market, a major economic hub for automobile spare parts in the Southwest, risks deepening economic inequality and heightening public mistrust if not handled with sensitivity and fairness.

As calls for accountability grow louder, all eyes are now on Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State House of Assembly to see how they will respond to what many have described as a test of the state's commitment to equity, justice, and inclusive governance.