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Nigerian senior human rights lawyers and advocate, Femi Falana, have greatly criticized the replacement of new road names and landmarks in the state of lagos, describing these steps as unconstitutional, unusual, and not culturally sensitive.
Falana’s statement arose because of the controversy that grew up on the decision by the Past Chair of the Local Council of Bariga (LCDA), Mr. Alabi Collade, to change the names of two ways to respect the President of Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Babajide Sanwo-Olu. One of the affected landmarks included the famous Charly Boy bus stop along Jalan GBAGADA-BARIGA, which has now changed its name to the Baddo Bus Stop.
Previously, the richest African person, Aliko Dangote, also triggered debate after mentioning two internal roads in his refinery complex after the late Herbert Wigwe and President Tinubu.
Falana, quoting the Nigerian Constitution, stated that this action was beyond the power of individual law or LCDA officials. “It is important to show, without fear of contradictions, that the naming of roads and roads, and house numbering in any part in Nigeria is one of the exclusive functions of the local government described in the fourth schedule of the Federal Nigeria Republic of the Republic, 1999 as amended,” he said.
He also referred to Judicial Precedent, Head of Obidi U Ume V Abuja Metropolitan Management Board & 2 ORS, where the High Court of the Federal Capital Region decided that only the Abuja City Area Council (AMAC) held the authority to name the paths in Abuja. Judge Edward Okpe, in the decision, ordered the removal of the road signs that were established without AMAC’s approval.
“Therefore, the deprivation of the exclusive function of the local government over the naming of the streets by certain individuals and the region of the development of local councils in the state of Lagos cannot be justified under the Nigerian Constitution,” said Falana.
Senior advocates took a certain problem with the replacement of the name of the iconic Charly Boy bus stop, which stated that the name had developed organically in the community because of the cultural significance and the old influence of Charly Boy’s entertainment in the area.
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We have confirmed that the Charley Boy bus stop was not mentioned by the authorities from the area of the development of the local council but by people from the Bariga and GBAGADA community. Apart from that fact, it must be quite appreciated that Charley Boy’s bus stop obtained his name historically and his identity sociologically.
“Changing the name of Charley Boy’s bus stop without consulting with Bariga and Gbagada people hitting authoritarianism,” he added.
Falana further condemned what he described as the State Double Standard – Fast removing the name of the local icon while preserving the paths named after the colonial oppressors.
“It is very sad to note that the country that continues to maintain the paths named after the murderer and economic patient from the former colonial kingdom is busy changing the name of the road and bus stop called Nigeria who has contributed their contribution to community development,” he said.
He called for transparency, legality, and community involvement in future naming decisions.
“Given the serious objection to the transfer of the transfer of the name of the road in the state of Lagos, the legislative weapons of the local government must further conduct public hearing,” he said.
“The streets should not be renamed arbitrarily without following a reasonable legal process with the aim to please the wishes and capacity of political leaders or to suggest the retrogressive ideas of ethnic chauvinism, especially in capitals such as Lagos,” concluded Falana.
