Manny Ita
The Lagos State Government has issued a formal warning to citizens against the assumption of chieftaincy titles and traditional roles without official executive approval, threatening violators with arrest and imprisonment. In a public notice titled ‘Prohibition of Unapproved Chieftaincy Titles In Lagos State’ released on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Robert, declared that the state will strictly enforce the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State 2015. The government characterized the rise of self-proclaimed traditional rulers as an “unhealthy development” that has increasingly triggered communal tension and social instability across the state.
Commissioner Robert stated that the prevalence of these unauthorized titles has reached an “alarming level,” necessitating immediate legal intervention to maintain public order. Speaking on the motivations behind the crackdown, Robert said, “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to an unhealthy development where some individuals or groups have assumed certain Chieftaincy titles, either on their own or as leaders of ethnic groups, without the approval of the State Government. These titles are not recognised in the State, and their use has caused tension, confusion, and needless crises. This situation requires urgent action to inject sanity and arrest the growing trend of impunity, in the interest of peace, law, and order in the State.”
The government clarified that while ethnic and social groups retain the right to appoint internal coordinators, they are prohibited from using nomenclatures reserved for traditional royalty. Robert noted that “the assumption of Chieftaincy titles and nomenclatures equivalent to that of an ‘Oba’ or appellations such as ‘His Royal Majesty’, ‘His Royal Highness’ or its equivalent is in contravention of the extant Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State 2015 and is illegal.” He further emphasized that the Governor of Lagos State remains the sole statutory authority for the approval of such titles, as specified under sections 15, 16, 17, 18, and 20 of the state law.
According to the Ministry, the move serves as a preventive measure against ethnic friction and the erosion of the integrity of established traditional institutions. Outlining the legal consequences for non-compliance, the Commissioner warned that any title conferred without the Governor’s consent is considered null and void. “The State Government is set to enforce the law, and henceforth bring violators to justice,” Robert stated. “Violators of this law will be prosecuted and, upon conviction, will face a punishment of two (2) years imprisonment, as prescribed by Section 21(1) and Section 21, Paragraph 2(d) of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State 2015.” This enforcement follows a legislative review in June 2025 that bolstered the governor’s oversight and criminalized unauthorized installations within the state’s modern administrative framework.
