The Executive Director of the Nigeria Trade Fair (NTF) Complex, Barrister Vera Safiya Ndanusa, has revealed that the recent demolition at the facility was a result of a gap in communication and coordination.
Ndanusa disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the Guardian, where she clarified the situation, following some controversies around the recent demolition at the Trade Fair Complex.
Some notable personalities including the Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Peter Obi, and Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), had condemned the Trade Fair demolitions, describing them as unlawful and beyond the jurisdiction of the Lagos State Government.
Umeh, speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief earlier this month, said the move by the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Abiodun Olumide, was “a clear breach of the law and an affront to due process.”
“The country is governed by laws and the Constitution. I am disappointed that the Commissioner for Physical Planning in Lagos State came on air to justify an illegal action,” he stated.
Umeh said that the Trade Fair Complex is a federal property managed by the Federal Government through the Trade Fair Management Board and, therefore, it is not under the control of Lagos State.
Speaking to the Guardian in a recent interview, the Executive Director of the Nigeria Trade Fair Complex, Barrister Ndanusa, clarified the situation.
“Yes, there have been some recent misunderstandings at the Trade Fair Complex, and it is important to clarify. The complex is a federal property under the management of our agency, which operates within the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. This includes the oversight of all development, estate management, and commercial activities on the premises,” she said.
“The issue largely stems from overlapping interpretations of jurisdiction between federal and state
agencies. While a state agency has referenced a 2003 judgment regarding building approvals, we have more recent court decisions and constitutional provisions that reaffirm our authority to oversee and regulate activities within the complex.”
On the recent demolition, she explained: “This has not been a legal standoff, but rather a gap in communication and coordination. We are now actively engaging with the relevant state authorities to find a collaborative path forward.
“That said, we acknowledge that some actions were taken before all facts and channels were properly aligned. We are working quickly to ensure that all stakeholders, including affected tenants, are heard and respected as we resolve the matter.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, had insisted that all actions carried out by the Lagos State Government are backed by the law.
Wahab said this a few weeks ago via a post on his official X account, in response to critics who condemned the Lagos State Government over the recent demolitions at the Trade Fair Complex.
“Here in Lagos, every one of our actions is backed by the law, and we stand by it all. We remain committed to enforcing the laws without distraction, irrespective of whose ox is gored!”
Speaking further, the commissioner said that when it comes to Lagos State, every Tom, Dick, and Harry would always want to have an opinion.
Wahab then asked: “Was it illegal when Governor Alex Otti removed contraventions in Abia State? Was it also illegal when Governor Charles Soludo removed contraventions in Anambra?”
