Traders at the Maboreje Market, also known as Pelewura Extension, located in the Lagos Island Local Government Area, have decried prolonged neglect and non-compensation by the Lagos State Government following the demolition of their shops in November 2024.
The demolition exercise, which affected over 5,000 shops, was carried out without prior notice, according to several affected traders, leaving thousands of business owners stranded and struggling to survive.
Speaking, Mr. Olasunkanmi Adejare, who represented his aged mother—a shop owner at the market—said that despite assurances from a local government official, Mr. Isaka Babatunde, that compensation would be paid before demolition, nothing has been received.
“Babatunde said original shop owners would get ₦1 million, those who bought shops would get ₦500,000, and tenants would get ₦250,000. We submitted our documents and bank details, but months after the demolition, we have received nothing,” Adejare lamented.
He further revealed that he wrote to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in January 2025 but has yet to receive any response.
Another trader, Abayomi Suleiman Sadik, echoed similar frustration. “We were asked to submit proof of shop ownership, but since then, we’ve heard nothing. People have been rendered jobless—widows, parents, and breadwinners are now begging for survival,” he said.
Lawal Aminat, a single mother, disclosed that proceeds from her shop were used to cater for her children’s education and daily needs. “We trusted the process and submitted everything. Now, we are left without support,” she said tearfully.
Kehind Olusase, another affected trader from Bariga, said, “They collected our bank accounts and passport photos. Since then, we’ve heard nothing but silence. We’ve visited the local government multiple times but keep getting pushed back.”
In response, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Electronic Geographic Information System and Urban Development, Dr. Abiodun Olajide Babatunde, disclosed that the state government had released ₦700 million to Lagos Island Local Government for full compensation.
He urged aggrieved traders to write to him directly or visit the local government office to claim their entitlements.
Despite this, many traders maintain that they are yet to receive any financial support or communication, raising concerns about the transparency and efficiency of the disbursement process.
The demolition and subsequent neglect have sparked renewed questions about the Lagos State Government’s approach to urban redevelopment and the human cost of such actions, especially on informal business owners who form a critical part of the state’s economy.
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