Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has criticised the ongoing renaming of streets and bus stops in Lagos State, describing the practice as unlawful, unconstitutional, and a clear overreach of authority.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Falana accused certain individuals and local council officials of ignoring constitutional provisions that vest the power to name roads, streets, and public places solely in local government councils.
He cited several controversial instances, including the renaming of “Charley Boy Bus Stop” to “Baddo Bus Stop” by former Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chairman, Kolade Alabi, and the naming of two streets in honour of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Falana also referenced reports that billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote allegedly renamed streets in memory of the late Herbert Wigwe and in honour of President Tinubu without statutory approval.
“The 1999 Constitution (as amended) is explicit in the Fourth Schedule that the naming of roads, streets, and numbering of houses falls under the exclusive authority of local government councils,” Falana said.
He recalled a judicial precedent in Chief Obidi Ume v. Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, where the High Court ruled that only the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) had the lawful power to name streets and roads within its jurisdiction.
The senior lawyer particularly condemned the unilateral renaming of the Charley Boy Bus Stop, describing it as disrespectful to both the residents of Bariga and Gbagada and to the cultural heritage of the area. “Charley Boy Bus Stop acquired its name as a result of the social and historical impact of Charley Boy in the community. Altering it without consulting the people is nothing short of authoritarianism,” he stated.
Falana further criticised the state’s reluctance to change street names that glorify colonial figures, while hastily replacing names associated with Nigerians who have contributed positively to society.
He urged legislative arms of local governments in Lagos to stop arbitrary renaming of public spaces and to establish transparent procedures, including public hearings, for such decisions.
“Street renaming should not be dictated by the whims of political leaders or used as a tool for ethnic or political propaganda, particularly in a diverse and cosmopolitan city like Lagos,” he warned.
Falana called for adherence to due process and community engagement, stressing that unilateral decisions on street names erode communal identity and undermine constitutional principles.
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