The controversy surrounding street renaming in Lagos State has deepened as the Eti-Osa Local Government Area released a fresh list of renamed streets, prompting renewed public discourse on the preservation of historical identity in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The announcement comes shortly after a heated public backlash over a similar exercise in the Bariga Local Council Development Area. In that case, streets were renamed to honour certain personalities, including the now infamous change of Charly Boy Bus Stop to Olamide Baddo Bus Stop, an action that drew criticism from rights advocates and residents alike.
Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, condemned the Bariga renaming, labelling it “unconstitutional” and a distortion of public identity.
Despite the uproar, the Eti-Osa council, in a notice now made public and signed by its council manager, Mrs. Oluwakemi Oshun, said the newly renamed streets are part of an ongoing street naming and revalidation project. The council maintained that the exercise is aimed at enhancing cultural relevance, easing navigation, and improving identity management in the area.
The renamed streets includes:
Tony Amadasun Road (Igbo Efon) now Chief Femi Pedro Road
Dr. Udo Wogu Drive (Chevy View) now Chief Adebola Dosunmu Drive
Augusta Orji Street (Aro Ologolo Road) now Alhaji Adio Mayegun Street
Chike Mba Close (Osapa London) now Hon. Sikiru Ashorota Close
Ugochukwu Orji Street (Igbo Efon) now Barr. Wale Sanni Street
Fubara Dublin Green Street (Igbo Efon) now Rafiu Olukolu Street
The council urged residents, business owners, and institutions to update their records to reflect the new street names.
Meanwhile, former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, waded into the broader debate in a forum recently, calling for restraint and historical mindfulness in the renaming of public places.
Speaking during the public launch of Discover Lagos State: A History Puzzle Book (Volume 1) at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Fashola emphasized the importance of documenting history and preserving the legacy of individuals whose contributions shaped the state.
Referencing Dr. Isaac Ladipo Oluwole, the first African medical officer of health in the Lagos colony and a pioneer of school health services, Fashola warned against arbitrary renaming that erases valuable historical narratives. He pointed out that streets like Ladipo Oluwole Street in Ikeja are not mere labels but tributes to individuals who left enduring legacies.
“It is perhaps instructive that we are discussing street naming and street unnaming,” Fashola remarked. “The preservation of our history and the documentation of our progress should be taken seriously.”
Fashola also called for greater support for the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB), which he credited for its efforts in promoting historical education and record-keeping.
As local governments continue with street rebranding efforts, stakeholders are urging authorities to adopt more inclusive and historically sensitive approaches to honouring individuals while preserving Lagos’s cultural and historical integrity.