Reopen Banex plaza immediately, reps tell FG

The house of representatives has asked the federal government to reopen Banex plaza “immediately”.

Parliament passed the resolution on Thursday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance.

The motion was moved by Sesi Oluseun, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member representing Badagry federal constituency of Lagos.

On Saturday, some traders engaged two soldiers in a scuffle, causing furore at the plaza located in Wuse 2.

The soldiers reportedly visited the plaza to complain about a phone, which led to an argument with the traders and a free-for-all fight. 

Following the incident, shop owners and traders swiftly closed for the day to avoid being caught up in a reprisal. 

On Monday, military personnel arrived in about five Hilux vehicles and shut down the plaza.

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Army said the plaza was temporarily shuttered to enable the arrest of the hoodlums who attacked the soldiers at the complex.

‘UNJUSTIFIABLE ATTACK’

Moving the motion, Oluseun said the soldiers were unarmed and posed no threat, making their attack unjustifiable.

He said the temporary closure of the plaza, a major commercial hub in the city, is hurting the nation’s economy.

“The over-reliance on traditional, heavy-handed methods in civil matters causes unnecessary disruption,” he said.

“The inappropriate use of military personnel in civil matters is detracting from their primary role of national defence.”

The motion was unanimously voted for when it was put to a voice vote by Ben Kalu, the presiding officer.

Consequently, the house asked the federal government and the Nigerian Army to “reopen Banex Plaza immediately to resume normal business activities and also to use modern technology, such as surveillance and closed circuit television to identify and apprehend the perpetrators”.

The house also mandated the committees on national security and intelligence, defence, and police affairs to “investigate the circumstances leading to the closure of Banex plaza and the military’s involvement and also to recommend more effective, less disruptive methods for handling similar situations in the future”.