Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has condemned the recent renaming of bus stops and streets in Lagos State, asserting that such actions were carried out without following legal protocols or seeking public consent.
Falana described the move as unlawful and indicative of autocratic tendencies, citing violations of the constitutional role assigned to local governments.
In his statement, Falana referenced instances including the renaming of “Charley Boy Bus Stop” to “Baddo Bus Stop” by Kolade Alabi, former Chairman of Bariga LCDA.
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He also pointed to the naming of streets after President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as well as reports that billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote named roads after the late Herbert Wigwe and President Tinubu without due authorization.
He emphasized that under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), only local governments are empowered to name streets and assign house numbers — responsibilities clearly outlined in the Fourth Schedule.
To back his position, Falana cited a legal precedent in Chief Obidi Ume v. Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, where the High Court ruled that the power to name roads lies with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
“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.
Falana expressed particular concern over the renaming of Charley Boy Bus Stop, stating it disregarded both historical context and community values.
“Charley Boy Bus Stop acquired its name sociologically due to its functionality and the positive impact which Charley Boy has historically made in the area,” he noted.
“Renaming it without consulting the Bariga and Gbagada people smacks of authoritarianism.”
He also criticized the retention of colonial-era names while replacing those that honor Nigerians who have made significant contributions to society.
Falana urged local government authorities in Lagos to put an end to arbitrary renaming practices, insisting that all changes to public space nomenclature must involve public hearings and adhere to legal procedures.
“Streets should not be renamed arbitrarily to please the whims and caprices of political leaders or to promote ethnic chauvinism, especially in a cosmopolitan capital city like Lagos,” he concluded.
, Femi Falana, has condemned the recent renaming of bus stops and streets in Lagos State, asserting that such actions were carried out without following legal protocols or seeking public consent.){kind=link}