Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has cautioned the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu against actions that could distort the rich historical identity of Lagos, particularly through the controversial renaming of streets.

Fashola issued the warning on Tuesday during the launch of “Discover Lagos State: A History Puzzle Book (Volume 1)” at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island. He emphasized the importance of preserving historical landmarks, civic memory, and the contributions of notable figures through documented legacies.

Referencing the archives of the University of Glasgow, Fashola spoke about Dr. Isaac Ladipo Oluwole, who studied in Glasgow and returned to Nigeria as the first African Medical Officer of Health in Lagos. He established Nigeria’s first School of Hygiene in Yaba and pioneered school health services.

 “So those of us who drive through streets such as Ladipo Oluwole Street in Ikeja will probably now understand... why it was considered such a high honour to immortalise him,” Fashola said.

In a veiled remark about the ongoing street renaming debate, Fashola warned:

 “It is perhaps instructive that we are discussing street naming and street unnaming... I reiterate my conviction that the preservation of our history and documentation of our progress should be taken seriously.”

He called for increased support for the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB), which produced the new educational book. Fashola stressed that LASRAB must become a fully funded hub for Lagos’s collective memory.

Representing Governor Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat praised the initiative as a blend of education, creativity, and cultural preservation. He also credited Fashola for founding LASRAB and setting documentation protocols still in use today.

 “It was an intentional effort to institutionalise, preserve, and disseminate Lagos’s narrative for posterity,” Hamzat noted.

He concluded by urging Lagosians to understand and safeguard their history to prevent cultural amnesia and identity loss.