Charly Boy: Public hearing should precede renaming of roads, streets — Falana

Falana

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised the recent renaming of streets and landmarks in Lagos State without public consultation, calling it a violation of constitutional provisions and a display of authoritarianism.

Falana’s statement follows recent reports that two streets were named after President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu by the immediate past Chairman of the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Kolade Alabi.

Mr Alabi also renamed the popular “Charly Boy Bus Stop” along the Gbagada–Bariga road axis to “Baddo Bus Stop.”

Earlier, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote named two streets after the late Herbert Wigwe and President Tinubu.

Falana insisted that the power to name roads, streets and number houses rests exclusively with local governments, as provided in the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“It is pertinent to point out, without any fear of contradiction, that the naming of roads and streets, and numbering of houses in any part of Nigeria is one of the exclusive functions of Local Governments outlined in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended,” he stated.

Citing legal precedent, Falana referenced the ruling in Chief Obidi Ume v Abuja Metropolitan Management Council & 2 Ors, where Justice Edward Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory declared that only the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has the authority to name roads and streets within Abuja. The court also ordered the removal of street signs illegally mounted without AMAC’s approval.

“Therefore, 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 said.