Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has appealed to the Lagos State Government to apply compassion and fairness in its ongoing demolition of markets and business structures, warning that such actions could cripple small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and destroy the livelihoods of hardworking Nigerians.
Obi made the call after visiting the site of the demolished ASPAMDA Market at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex, where hundreds of traders were left counting their losses. He described the demolitions as a "test of leadership, justice, and respect for human dignity," urging authorities to balance law enforcement with empathy.
He shared his personal experience from the United Kingdom, where due process had to be strictly followed before reclaiming a property, contrasting it with the demolitions in Lagos which, he said, were carried out without sufficient consideration for affected business owners.
"It would have been unthinkable for the state to simply wake up one morning and demolish people's shops and investments," Obi said. "Governance must always balance law with compassion. A government should not pride itself on being legally correct if it becomes morally wrong."
The former Anambra State governor noted that billions of naira in SME assets and inventory were lost in the exercise, stressing that market demolitions not only destroy physical structures but also wipe out years of savings, jobs, and entrepreneurial dreams.
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He urged the Lagos government to explore alternative solutions, such as phased relocations, stakeholder consultations, and improved documentation processes, to prevent further hardship for traders and small business owners.
"The strength of any economy lies in its small businesses. When these businesses are destroyed without support, we weaken the very foundation of our economy," Obi said.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, defended the demolitions as lawful, saying affected traders had been given ample time to regularise their papers following a government amnesty extension.
However, Obi maintained that while enforcing urban regulations is necessary, it must not come at the expense of human dignity and economic survival, especially for thousands of Nigerians who rely on their small enterprises for daily sustenance.
