Residents of Ilaje community in Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, took to the streets on Wednesday in protest against the recent renaming of their long-standing ‘Ilaje Road’ to ‘King Sunny Ade Road.’
Led by traditional and community leaders, the protesters called for an immediate reversal of the name change, describing it as a violation of their heritage and identity.
The renaming, carried out last week by outgoing Bariga LCDA Chairman David Kolade Alabi just before the end of his tenure, has sparked outrage not only within the community but also among Lagosians and Nigerians nationwide.
Addressing the demonstrators before the protest march, the Baale of Ilaje/Bariga, High Chief Kayode Ayetiwa, stressed the historical value of the road’s original name.
“We will not allow the legacy and name of Ilaje Road to be erased, no matter how prominent the person it’s renamed after,” THEWEST quoted Ayetiwa as saying.
He noted that Ilaje Road has carried its name since 1948 and is an integral part of the community’s history.
Ayetiwa also revealed that the new LCDA Chairperson, Bukola Adedeji, contacted him on Tuesday, urging calm and promising that the decision would be reviewed. However, the protest continued as planned, and a formal petition was submitted by the community leaders demanding that the name change be revoked.
The protest letter, signed by Ayetiwa and other prominent figures, described the renaming as “unconstitutional” and executed “without the consent of the legislative arm of the council.”
Raphael Irowanu, President General of Egbe Omo Ilaje, voiced deeper concerns over what he called the ongoing marginalisation of the Ilaje people by political powers in Lagos.
“The renaming of Ilaje Road is part of a bigger plan to erase us,” Irowanu said.
He clarified that the protest was not an attack on King Sunny Ade, who is widely respected, but a defense of the community’s cultural identity. He also warned of potential political consequences for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) if the issue remains unresolved.
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“If this issue is not addressed, it could affect the APC politically,” Irowanu warned.
He further highlighted the significance of the Ilaje population in Lagos, noting their Yoruba roots traced to Ile-Ife and estimating their numbers at around four million within the state.
Protesters marched peacefully with placards reading “Ilaje Road, our history, our identity” and “We say no to renaming,” vowing to persist until the original name is officially restored.
The renaming of streets and public landmarks in Lagos has recently become a subject of heated public discourse, legal challenges, and civic pushback.
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana described the trend as “unconstitutional and authoritarian,” citing the Nigerian Constitution, which reserves the power to name streets to local government councils, not LCDA chairpersons.
Falana referred to the legal case Chief Obidi Ume v. Abuja Metropolitan Management Council to reinforce his position, and criticised the arbitrary renaming of landmarks such as “Charly Boy Bus Stop” to “Baddo Bus Stop” without community input.
Former Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola also weighed in, advocating for the preservation of historical names and legacies.
At a public event, Fashola urged Lagosians to understand the significance behind street names and called for greater support for the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB).
He cited names like Dr. Isaac Ladipo Oluwole—Nigeria’s first African medical officer of health—as examples of legacies that should be honoured and preserved.
Critics of the renaming policy argue that the practice promotes political patronage and fosters ethnic marginalisation under the guise of honouring public figures.