₦airaland Forum

Recent demolitions of properties in Lagos, many of them belonging to the Igbo and other Nigerians, have exposed a troubling dimension of governance and inter-ethnic relations in Nigeria. These acts, carried out by the Lagos State Government, amount to economic terrorism against citizens who have invested heavily in the state’s development.

For decades, Igbos have played a vital role in transforming Lagos into Nigeria’s commercial nerve center. They built homes, industries, and markets; they created jobs and generated taxes that sustain public infrastructure. They bought lands with their hard-earned money, secured necessary approvals, and constructed buildings under the supervision of government agencies.

How then can the same government return years later to demolish those structures, citing “irregularities” or “encroachment”? Such actions are not only unjust but also destructive to public trust and economic confidence. They amount to a betrayal of legitimate investors and a blatant disregard for the rule of law.

These demolitions send a dangerous message, that citizens, particularly the Igbos, are not safe to invest outside their ethnic homeland. They also discourage both local and international investors who now view Lagos, and by extension Nigeria, as a politically unstable and economically petty environment.

If truly Nigeria is one nation, then no government has the moral or legal right to destroy the wealth of citizens who invested in good faith. The act is not just a physical destruction of property, it is a symbolic assault on unity, trust, and progress.

By targeting a group whose only offense is enterprise and success, the Lagos State Government, possibly aided by elements of the central authority, shows a lack of gratitude and foresight. It proves that political pettiness and ethnic bias still outweigh justice and development in Nigeria’s governance system.

Odor Michael C.

Igbos and victim mentality. The houses demolished at oworo were owned by igbos? Ola of lagos show room was owned by igbos? 🤡

Igbos contributed to the development of the state based on the principle of "let's join hands together to make this place great". Those calling out Igbos today have little to nothing input to the growth of Lagos. You can never see anyone who toiled with these Igbos from the ground up complain, it's always those who inherited the glory of Lagos today and don't know how it was built.

givedemwotowoto:
Igbos contributed to the development of the state based on the principle of "let's join hands together to make this place great". Those calling out Igbos today have little to nothing input to the growth of Lagos. You can never see anyone who toiled with these Igbos from the ground up complain, it's always those who inherited the glory of Lagos today and don't know how it was built.

You develop Lagos but couldn't develop yiur own region. What joke 😂

Kdon2:
You develop Lagos but couldn't develop yiur own region. What joke 😂

Isn’t the so-called Lagos builder from Osun? What did he build in Osun? Your head correct so?

Auspiman:
Recent demolitions of properties in Lagos, many of them belonging to the Igbo and other Nigerians, have exposed a troubling dimension of governance and inter-ethnic relations in Nigeria. These acts, carried out by the Lagos State Government, amount to economic terrorism against citizens who have invested heavily in the state’s development.

For decades, Igbos have played a vital role in transforming Lagos into Nigeria’s commercial nerve center. They built homes, industries, and markets; they created jobs and generated taxes that sustain public infrastructure. They bought lands with their hard-earned money, secured necessary approvals, and constructed buildings under the supervision of government agencies.

How then can the same government return years later to demolish those structures, citing “irregularities” or “encroachment”? Such actions are not only unjust but also destructive to public trust and economic confidence. They amount to a betrayal of legitimate investors and a blatant disregard for the rule of law.

These demolitions send a dangerous message, that citizens, particularly the Igbos, are not safe to invest outside their ethnic homeland. They also discourage both local and international investors who now view Lagos, and by extension Nigeria, as a politically unstable and economically petty environment.

If truly Nigeria is one nation, then no government has the moral or legal right to destroy the wealth of citizens who invested in good faith. The act is not just a physical destruction of property, it is a symbolic assault on unity, trust, and progress.

By targeting a group whose only offense is enterprise and success, the Lagos State Government, possibly aided by elements of the central authority, shows a lack of gratitude and foresight. It proves that political pettiness and ethnic bias still outweigh justice and development in Nigeria’s governance system.

Odor Michael C.

Why is it economic Terorism when done in Lagos, but just normal town planning when done in other parts of the country?

I will also like to ask you, the money that the Igbos used in building their houses and bisinesses in Lagos, did they make it in Lagos or brought that money from anambra?

Let me change that question a bit, the wealth of the Igbos came from where, is it their business in Lagos or their palaces in owerri.

Lagos has been good to the Igbos, they are everywhere flourishing and doing well, that is why they have remained in Lagos and will continue to remain there.

Relocate back to your region and stop complaining all the time.

Wetin self

ednut1:
Igbos and victim mentality. The houses demolished at oworo were owner by igbos? Ola of lagos show room was owned by igbos? 🤡

They actually don't know the implications of all these foul crying all the time

loffyloffy:
Why is it economic Terorism when done in Lagos, but just normal town planning when done in other parts of the country?

I will also like to ask you, the money that the Igbos used in building their houses and bisinesses in Lagos, did they make it in Lagos or brought that money from anambra?

Let me change that question a bit, the wealth of the Igbos came from where, is it their business in Lagos or their palaces in owerri.

Lagos has been good to the Igbos, they are everywhere flourishing and doing well, that is why they have remained in Lagos and will continue to remain there.

Your reasoning is a reflection of your level of education. A state government gave approval for a building, supervised the structure, then trun around to say they encroached on whatever. That is NONSENSE!

Let's even do the simplest things first by being pro east, prioritize Eastern products, services, goods , schools. If igbos don't go pro East then they will not have a say in the next 10 year but if they do , then the fortunes will reverse

Lagos Demolitions are Terrorism?
Then what do you call the ones in Anambra,Abia and Enugu?

Validated:
Your reasoning is a reflection of your level of education. A state government gave approval for a building, supervised the structure, then trun around to say they encroached on whatever. That is NONSENSE!

Do you have those approvals?, have you seen them.

Compliance with town planning laws is the issue. Those who have proper approvals have nothing to fear. It's not a tribal issue. Owode Onirin and Oworonshoki among others were affected. Most of the people there are Yorubas.

Auspiman:
Recent demolitions of properties in Lagos, many of them belonging to the Igbo and other Nigerians,

Odor Michael C.

What kind statement is this especially the bolded?

Why specify Ndigbo, why not say Nigerians.

Dog whistle article, too bad.