Motor spare-parts and scrap dealers in the Ogunrinde Street and Super/Katangowa axis of Abule Egba, Lagos, have raised concerns over a five-day relocation ultimatum issued by the Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), questioning the availability of space and the process for securing shops at the proposed new site.
The dispute follows plans to redevelop the Katangowa axis as part of the Lagos ICT Park project, with road construction already progressing in the area and preparations continuing for the relocation of businesses associated with Ikeja Computer Village.
The LCDA said it had facilitated three acres of land along the Amikanle axis for the affected spare-parts dealers as an alternative location.
However, a public notice issued by the council directed traders operating along Ogunrinde Street and inside Super/Katangowa Market to relocate to Amikanle Auto Spare Parts Market with immediate effect. The notice, which took effect on Friday, October 2, 2026, gave the traders five days to comply and warned of possible shop sealing and fines for those who failed to move.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Lagos State Branch, said the timeframe was inadequate, particularly for traders who had recently renewed their rents and needed time to move their goods and reorganise their businesses.
CDHR Chairman, Comrade Adewale Ojo, said the organisation did not oppose legitimate government development projects but insisted that affected businesses should be properly engaged, given adequate notice and provided with a viable alternative before displacement.
The traders also questioned the allocation process at the proposed Amikanle site. According to CDHR, some traders were directed to one Bode Famuyiwa over the allocation of spaces but were later allegedly told that vacant land was unavailable and that existing shops were being offered for about ₦5 million each.
The council’s relocation notice does not mention Famuyiwa, prescribe an allocation procedure or state that traders are required to pay ₦5 million for shops. It therefore remains unclear whether the alleged charge is an official requirement or whether Famuyiwa has any formal role in the relocation exercise.
Some traders also said they had previously moved from another location after being told the land was required for drainage construction, only to face another relocation.
CDHR has called for any forceful eviction or demolition to be suspended pending consultation. It is demanding an official relocation plan showing available spaces, a joint inspection of the Amikanle site, clarification of any applicable charges and a reasonable relocation timeline.
The group also said it was willing to facilitate dialogue between the traders and government authorities and warned that it would seek legal redress if the dispute could not be resolved through dialogue. No LCDA representative was present at the CDHR press conference to respond directly to the allegations.
The LCDA, meanwhile, said the three-acre Amikanle allocation was intended to provide an alternative for the affected businesses and minimise the impact of redevelopment on traders’ livelihoods. The council also reaffirmed its commitment to stakeholder engagement and dialogue.
