Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has strongly criticised the ongoing trend of renaming streets and public spaces in Lagos, describing the actions as unlawful and undemocratic.
Falana condemned recent instances, including the renaming of the popular “Charly Boy Bus Stop” to “Baddo Bus Stop” by the former chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Mr Kolade Alabi.
In a statement at the weekend, Falana said these actions violate the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which clearly vests the responsibility for naming and numbering streets exclusively in local government councils.
“The usurpation of the exclusive functions of local governments on street naming by certain individuals and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State cannot be justified under the Nigerian Constitution,” Falana stated.
Falana particularly faulted the renaming of the Charley Boy Bus Stop, which he described as a landmark historically named by the Bariga and Gbagada communities.
“Charly Boy Bus Stop acquired its name sociologically due to its functionality and the positive impact which Charly Boy has historically made in the area.
“Renaming it without consulting the Bariga and Gbagada people smacks of authoritarianism,” Falana noted.
The rights lawyer also expressed concern that Lagos has left untouched many colonial-era names associated with oppression, while targeting names that honor Nigerians who have made positive contributions to society.
Falana urged the legislative arms of local governments across Lagos to take immediate steps to end arbitrary renaming of streets and to introduce transparent processes, including public hearings, to ensure community involvement in such decisions.
“Streets should not be renamed arbitrarily to please the whims and caprices of political leaders or to promote ethnic chauvinism, especially in a cosmopolitan capital city like Lagos,” Falana added.
He emphasised the need for inclusivity and community involvement in decision-making processes, particularly when it comes to renaming streets and public spaces that have historical and cultural significance.
