Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has criticised the recent wave of street and bus stop renaming in Lagos State, describing it as unlawful, undemocratic, and a violation of constitutional provisions.
In a statement, Falana argued that renaming public spaces without proper consultation undermines the powers of local government councils as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He stressed that, under the law, only elected local councils have the authority to name streets, roads, and assign house numbers, referencing the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.
He cited recent cases, including the renaming of “Charley Boy Bus Stop” to “Baddo Bus Stop” by Kolade Alabi, former chairman of the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), and streets named after President Bola Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the late Herbert Wigwe.
Falana alleged that these changes were made without statutory approvals or community engagement.
Quoting a previous High Court judgment in Chief Obidi Ume v. Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Falana emphasised that naming roads and streets is an exclusive responsibility of local government councils, warning against what he called an “usurpation of the exclusive functions of local governments”.
He criticised the renaming of Charley Boy Bus Stop, a historically significant location named by residents of Bariga and Gbagada, without public input.
“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 said.
“Renaming it without consulting the Bariga and Gbagada people smacks of authoritarianism.”
Falana also condemned the continued presence of street names honouring colonial figures linked to oppression while names that celebrate Nigerians with positive historical contributions are being replaced.
He urged Lagos local government legislative arms to halt arbitrary renaming, insisting on public hearings and adherence to legal processes.
“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 said.
Falana warned that unilateral renaming undermines democratic values and erodes community identity, calling for respect for due process and inclusive decision-making
