Prominent human rights advocate and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has strongly criticized the Lagos State government’s recent move to rename several streets and bus stops.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Falana described the changes as unconstitutional, undemocratic, and a clear violation of local government authority as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
“He described the action as illegal, authoritarian, and a violation of the constitutional powers vested in local governments.”
Falana cited various examples of what he termed unauthorized renaming, including the replacement of “Charley Boy Bus Stop” with “Baddo Bus Stop”, allegedly carried out by Kolade Alabi, the former Chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
He also mentioned the recent naming of streets after President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as well as actions by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, who reportedly renamed two streets in honour of his late friend Herbert Wigwe and the President.
“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 stated.
According to the senior lawyer, the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) assigns the exclusive power of street naming, road designation, and house numbering to local government councils.
To reinforce his point, Falana referenced the case of Chief Obidi Ume v. Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, in which the High Court ruled that only the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) was legally authorized to name roads within its jurisdiction.
In particular, he decried the renaming of the Charley Boy Bus Stop, noting its deep cultural and historical relevance to the Bariga and Gbagada communities.
“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.”
Falana also criticized the apparent inconsistency in Lagos’ approach to renaming public spaces.
While colonial-era names linked to oppression remain untouched, names that honour local heroes are being discarded without due process.
He urged local government legislative arms across Lagos to halt what he called the arbitrary renaming of public infrastructure and instead adopt a system that involves public hearings and lawful 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,” the respected legal practitioner added.
He called for accountability and community participation, warning that bypassing constitutional procedure and public involvement undermines both democratic values and local identity.
