The Lekki Automobile Dealers Union has expressed strong support for the Lagos State Government over the recent demolition of car showrooms along the Lekki-Ajah Expressway, describing the exercise as lawful, necessary, and in the public interest.

The demolition, which drew widespread attention on social media, followed the circulation of viral videos showing excavators pulling down luxury car display lots, including one reportedly associated with auto influencer Ola of Lagos.

However, findings later revealed that the affected property was owned by Skyewise Group, a registered automotive firm. The company clarified that Ola of Lagos had only leased a section of the facility for car displays and promotional activities.

According to the union, the government’s action was part of a coordinated effort to restore order and enhance safety along the Lekki–Ajah corridor. It maintained that all affected dealers were duly notified in advance and offered relocation assistance, countering claims that the exercise was abrupt.

Dealers also cited safety and environmental factors, including blocked drainage channels, flood risks, and illegal structures erected under high-tension power lines, as justification for the state’s intervention.

The union commended Commissioner for the Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, and Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, for their “transparent communication and professional handling” of the operation.

In its own statement, Skyewise Group expressed disappointment but noted that the government’s action was connected to planned infrastructure expansion, particularly access routes for upcoming waterway development projects in the Lekki axis. The company pledged to rebuild a larger, fully compliant facility and to publish official documentation proving that it had obtained all necessary approvals.

Meanwhile, Ola of Lagos confirmed that his car showrooms were affected by the demolition but assured that his business, OOL Autos, remains operational. He promised fans that a new, improved showroom was already being developed, saying it would be “bigger and better.”

Lekki auto dealers defend Lagos govt amid public outrage over demolitions