Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised the renaming of streets and bus stops in Lagos State, calling it unconstitutional and illegal.
Falana condemned actions such as the renaming of “Charley Boy Bus Stop” to “Baddo Bus Stop” by former Bariga LCDA chairman Kolade Alabi. He also faulted the naming of streets after President Bola Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the late Herbert Wigwe, reportedly influenced by businessman Aliko Dangote.
“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,” he said.
Citing the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution and a court ruling in Chief Obidi Ume v. Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Falana stressed that only local governments have the authority to name roads.
He condemned the lack of community consultation, particularly over Charley Boy Bus Stop, and urged local governments to follow due process through public hearings before renaming public spaces.