…Famous Mba Street Renamed as Gov. Sanwo-Olu Road

By Efe Onodjae

The recent renaming of streets in the Ajeromi Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State, particularly in the Ajegunle community, has ignited heated public debate among residents and officials.

One of the key changes involves the renaming of the iconic Mba Street, now dedicated to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

While residents claim that the changes disproportionately affected streets with Igbo names, officials argue that the renaming process was impartial and in line with local government requirements.

At the Ajeromi Local Government Secretariat, the council’s Secretary, Jumor Lukman, clarified the rationale behind the renaming exercise. According to him, the affected streets had failed to comply with administrative procedures over decades.

“There are procedures for street naming,” Lukman explained. “If a street is named after an individual, there are obligations to the local government that must be fulfilled, including documentation and periodic validation of the name. Many streets have not complied with this process for over 40 years.”

He dismissed claims of bias, emphasizing that the process was not targeted at streets with Igbo names. “Several streets still bear Igbo names. However, compliance with renewal processes is mandatory. For instance, Daddy Showkey, who is not Yoruba, has a street named after him.”

Despite the government’s explanations, many residents were unaware of the name changes. Uzor Street, now renamed Kalejaiye Adeboye Street, is one such example.

“We were not informed or consulted about the renaming,” said a resident, Mr. Agu, who has lived in the area for 40 years. “Adjusting to the new names will not be easy for us.”

In an official statement titled “Street Renaming: 24 Names Changed in the Ajegunle Community,” the council detailed the changes.

The statement read: “This is to notify the general public that the old names of the aforementioned streets have been revoked. The council wishes to inform the public that the names have been replaced with new ones.”

Among the renamed streets are:

Mba Street → Sanwo-Olu Road

Uzor Street → Kalejaiye Adeboye

George Street → Daddy Showkey

Imo Eze Street → Layiwole Oluwa

Agbe Street → Bayewu Kamal

Emordi Street → Ayoola Fatai

Osho Drive → Musibau Oluwa

Achakpo Street → Rabiu Oluwa

Hospital Road → Chief Dele Fayemi

Ebubedike Street → Adeyemi Samuel

Jones Waribi → Ogunkoya Shina Street

Oboh Street → Kola Balogun Street

Kirikiri Road → Oba Olu-Iwa Road

The list also includes several other streets renamed after prominent individuals.

The controversy highlights the disconnect between the local government’s administrative actions and community engagement.

While the council defends its decision as a regulatory necessity, residents continue to question the lack of prior consultation and the broader implications of the name changes.