Lagos State was thrown into tension on Thursday, September 25, 2025, as the state government carried out a massive demolition exercise at the New Mandela Plaza, located within the popular Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of the state. The operation, which targeted over 19 commercial buildings, was conducted under heavy security presence, sparking panic and outrage among traders and property owners.
Eyewitnesses reported that as early as dawn, a combined team of operatives from the Lagos State Task Force, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and other tactical units stormed the complex, sealing off all entrances and restricting movement in and out of the area. Armed officers were strategically stationed to prevent resistance, while bulldozers swiftly moved in to pull down marked structures. Traders and shop owners who attempted to gain access to their properties or record the exercise were sternly ordered to vacate the premises.
By mid-morning, several of the targeted buildings had already been reduced to rubble. Distraught traders and plaza owners lamented heavy financial losses, with some claiming that valuable goods and equipment locked inside their shops were destroyed along with the buildings. According to affected business operators, each of the demolished structures was worth over ₦150 million, representing years of hard work and investment now lost in a single day.
Many of the victims alleged that the demolition came without prior notice. “We don’t even know the reason for this demolition. Nobody told us anything. We just came this morning to see armed security men everywhere and bulldozers pulling down our shops,” one trader lamented. Another shop owner, who rushed to the scene only to find his building already flattened, described the action as “heartbreaking and inhuman,” accusing the government of acting without due consultation.
While the state government has yet to issue an official statement on the operation, some traders speculated that the affected buildings were considered too close to a canal or may have violated planning regulations. Attempts to clarify the situation from the Lagos State Task Force yielded little insight, as its Chairman distanced the agency from initiating the demolition, explaining that the presence of Task Force operatives was only to provide security support.
The demolition exercise has left the bustling Trade Fair Plaza, a major commercial hub that serves thousands of traders and shoppers daily, in a state of shock and confusion. Business activities were completely paralyzed as security operatives maintained a strong presence to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
As at the time of filing this report, traders and property owners were calling on the Lagos State Government to provide clear explanations for the demolition and to offer compensation to those whose livelihoods have been destroyed. The development has sparked debates over urban planning enforcement, human rights concerns, and the need for government to balance regulatory actions with the welfare of citizens.
