The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the demolition of the Alaba Rago Market in Lagos, describing the action as an “onslaught” against Northern traders.
In a statement issued by its Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, the group condemned the pulling down of shops and places of worship, warning that the move was unlawful and could trigger retaliatory sentiments in the North.
ABMPF said accounts from displaced traders indicated that the demolition, carried out under the guise of modernization, was executed without consultation, due process, or prior notice. Losses were estimated at more than ₦20 billion, leaving thousands of traders without livelihoods.
The forum noted that Alaba Rago, which spans over 10 hectares, has served as a commercial hub for Northern traders for more than eight decades, predating Nigeria’s independence. It added that the demolition, which reportedly affected around 40 mosques, had left the community in shock.
The group also argued that while Yorubas live and integrate freely across Northern states such as Kaduna and Katsina, Northerners in Lagos were being unfairly treated as squatters despite their decades-long contribution to the state’s economy.
Describing the action as unconstitutional, ABMPF accused the Lagos State Government of attempting to “Yorubanize Lagos” by displacing Northerners and Easterners. It urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reverse the decision, compensate affected traders, and provide relocation alternatives.
The forum further called on Northern governors, legislators, and traditional rulers to intervene and safeguard the rights of Northerners living in Lagos.
