The livelihoods of some mechanics in Lagos State were crushed on Friday after task force officials of the state government demolished the automobile market at First Gate, Agidingbi, Ikeja.
A viral video shared on Saturday by X user @chude_ showed aggrieved workers at the market accusing the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration of tribalism, while others alleged they were given inadequate time to evacuate and received no compensation.
Confirming the demolition to Peoples Gazette, the governor’s special adviser on media and publicity, Gboyega Akosile, said the state government — the original owner of the land — can reclaim it at any time without explanation.
Responding to a claim by one of the affected workers that Ojodu Local Government had sold the land to them over 30 years ago, Mr Akosile said the allegation was untrue. “Can anybody send you away from something you bought? They would have gone to court to stop it,” he said.
Mr Akosile explained: “Let me tell you what usually happens. There’s an expanse of land. Mechanics, through their association, lease it because the government doesn’t want miscreants to take over the space. It’s better to let the mechanics use it as a workshop.
“But when the government decides to use it for something more productive and purposeful, they inform them to vacate. They don’t even need to give a reason. That’s generally what happens.”
Responding to some workers’ allegations that they were given only two days’ notice, Mr Akosile denied the claim, stating that his own mechanic — who operates in the same market — informed him that the market leaders were notified well in advance but failed to communicate it to members.
“I can bet my life they weren’t given just two days — it’s not possible,” Mr Akosile said. “Which government types a letter and gives only two days’ notice? I passed there yesterday. That’s where my personal mechanic works. He told me they were sent away. I asked what happened. He said, ‘Don’t mind our chairmen. They held meetings with government officials and got the notice, but didn’t tell us.’ This is what my mechanic told me. People lie so much against the government.”
Mr Akosile, however, promised to get more information from the leadership of the task force that carried out the demolition and revert.
