The Lagos State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Abdullahi Olowa, has defended the decision of local government authorities to rename or revoke street names, insisting it falls squarely within their constitutional mandate.
Olowa, who also serves as Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, said the recent renaming of streets in Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) was legally backed and within the powers of the council.
“Street naming is within the purview of local governments. It’s a constitutional mandate. So what Bariga has done is in line with the constitution. And as a matter of fact, street names, when approved, must be renewed from time to time. If you do not renew your street names, the LG has every reason to want to revoke and rename the street,” Olowa told Hobnob News.
He added, “If a street name exists and there is no approval from the local government, the local government has the right to revoke it, because all street names must be approved by the local government.”
The clarification comes amid public outrage over the renaming of “Charly Boy Bus Stop” to “Olamide Baddo Bus Stop” in Bariga, a decision that sparked criticisms. Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), described the move as “illegal” and an abuse of power.
Earlier in August, residents of Ilaje Road in Bariga LCDA also staged a protest after the council changed the name of their street to “King Sunny Ade Road.” They argued that the original name carried deep cultural and historical significance, which the renaming threatened to erase.
Protesters told Hobnob News that the council’s actions undermined their heritage and severed important community ties.
