The Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Amalgamated Union of Motor Mechanics and Technicians of Nigeria (AUOMMATON) are at loggerheads with the Lagos State Government following the controversial demolition of 15 workshops at the Otumara Mechanic Village in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
Describing the March 7 demolition as unlawful and a disguised land-grab operation, the NLC and AUOMMATON are now demanding compensation, relocation, and an investigation into the move that has left hundreds of informal workers jobless and families devastated.
According to the union, the Otumara Mechanic Village was not only legally allocated by the government in the early 1980s under the Lateef Jakande administration but was also developed into a vital economic hub supporting Lagos’s bustling automotive service sector. Each workshop reportedly supported a network of panel beaters, electricians, mechanics, welders, spray painters, and apprentices.
“This wasn’t just an illegal act — it was a calculated attempt to dispossess over 100 families of their livelihood,” AUOMMATON Lagos State Chairman, Julius Lawa, said. “We’ve paid our dues to the state for over four decades, including rent and taxes.”
The crisis reportedly began in February when Lagos State Building Control Agency issued a contravention notice on Otumara. Despite presenting valid allocation documents, a sudden eviction notice followed. Union leaders say after back-and-forth meetings and verbal assurances that the site would remain untouched, bulldozers—escorted by security operatives and unidentified men—arrived unannounced and razed the area.
“The artisans were chased out at gunpoint, no compensation, no relocation plan. This is not just poor governance; it’s a clear case of oppression,” said AUOMMATON State Secretary Abdul Yusuf.
The Lagos chapter of the NLC has now stepped in, with its Chairperson, Agnes Funmi, calling the demolition “an act of betrayal against the informal sector that forms the backbone of Lagos’ economy.”
She warned that if no urgent remedy was provided, the entire Lagos workforce could be mobilized for mass protest.
“We do not want this to escalate, but if need be, we will take decisive action. Labour will not sit back and watch our members be stripped of dignity and livelihood,” Funmi said at a press briefing.
Legal counsel for AUOMMATON, Barrister Titi Ogunye, condemned the demolition as a breach of public policy and a violation of the Lagos State land-use framework.
“This is a government-recognized mechanic village. It’s not a squatter camp,” Ogunye argued. “The land was granted with government backing, and its reclamation for private interest, under the guise of development, is both illegal and unethical.”
Ogunye highlighted that land use for public purposes, under Nigerian law, includes supporting trades and economic activity — not just roads and hospitals.
Repeated efforts by the union’s lawyers to get the attention of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu have gone unanswered. A formal petition was submitted on March 19, with a follow-up on May 5, addressed to key state ministries. As of the time of filing this report, no response had been received from the Office of the Governor or the Ministry of Information.
When approached, a senior official at the Ministry of Physical Planning, Onyebola Akintobi, declined comment and directed enquiries to the permanent secretary’s office.
Analysts warn that this incident could spiral into a wider crisis, especially amid Lagos’ rapid urbanisation and rising inequality. Otumara, once a critical node for low-cost car repairs, served both commercial drivers and middle-class car owners. Its destruction may lead to increased automotive service costs, longer turnaround times, and a rise in illegal roadside operations.
With Lagos contributing over 30% of Nigeria’s GDP and relying heavily on its informal workforce, critics say state-backed demolitions like this without due process and resettlement plans undermine trust and stability.
“The ripple effects of this action will hit transportation, youth employment, and crime rates,” said economist Abdul Olatunde. “If artisans are not compensated or relocated, they may resort to protests or disruptive means to reclaim their space.”
AUOMMATON is demanding:
Immediate investigation into the demolition process
Compensation for all affected members
Reconstruction or relocation of the Otumara Mechanic Village
Formal engagement with the Lagos State Government
“We’re not criminals; we’re taxpayers and contributors to the Lagos economy,” Yusuf said. “All we ask for is justice and the opportunity to continue our trade in peace.”
As Lagos eyes ambitious urban renewal plans to transform its landscape by 2030, the Otumara saga raises important questions about how inclusive that development will be — and whether the voices of informal workers will be protected or bulldozed.