Ezekwesili warns Sanwo-Olu, Tinubu over demolition of plazas in Alaba market

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili has sounded a note of warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor, Babajide Sawo-Olu of Lagos State over the ongoing demolition of distressed building at Alaba International Market.

Alaba, located in Lagos state’s Ojo Local Government Area, is Nigeria’s largest electronics market. Igbo traders control the majority of the market.

Although demolition of market structures began on Sunday, June 18, 2023, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, had allegedly listed at least 17 buildings for destruction as early as 2016.

However, the demolition of the buildings sparked outrage among traders who claimed the exercise was politically motivated.

Reacting, Ezekwesili in a series of tweets on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, asked Governor Sanwo-Olu to immediately publish details of demolished buildings in the market.

This according to her “would provide evidence to the public that this is not a vengeful political attack against the predominant Igbo community in Alaba Market”

She added that “governance by maliciousness does no one any good”.