Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has described the recent renaming of streets and bus stops in Lagos State as illegal, authoritarian, and a breach of constitutional provisions.

In a statement, Falana criticised moves by public officials and individuals to rename public infrastructure without statutory approval or community consultation. He cited examples such as the renaming of “Charley Boy Bus Stop” to “Baddo Bus Stop” by Kolade Alabi, former Chairman of Bariga LCDA, as well as the naming of two streets after President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Falana also referenced reports that billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote allegedly named two streets in honour of his late friend Herbert Wigwe and President Tinubu, again without following proper legal procedures.

He stressed that the Nigerian Constitution, specifically the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), assigns the exclusive power to name streets and roads to local government councils. He cited the court ruling in Chief Obidi Ume v. Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, where the court upheld this constitutional principle.

Falana condemned the unilateral renaming of the historically significant Charley Boy Bus Stop, noting that it was named organically by the residents of Bariga and Gbagada to honour a figure who made a positive impact on the community.

“Renaming the bus stop without consulting local residents reflects authoritarian governance and disregards cultural memory,” he said.

He further lamented the persistence of colonial-era street names in Lagos while new efforts aim to erase names that celebrate impactful Nigerians. He called on local government legislative arms to halt arbitrary renaming and adopt public hearings and legal frameworks for such decisions.

“Street names must not be changed on a whim or to satisfy political ambitions. In a cosmopolitan city like Lagos, this trend undermines community identity and violates constitutional order,” Falana warned.