Ex-Footballer Emmanuel Emenike Condemns Lagos Demolitions, Accuses Government of Unfairness

Former Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike has criticized the ongoing demolition of buildings in Lagos State, accusing the state government of acting unjustly against property owners who had obtained valid approvals before construction.

In a video and social media posts that have gone viral, Emenike expressed anger over the demolition of several properties along waterways and drainage channels in parts of Lagos, including areas such as Gedegede-Mobil Road, Ikota, and Megamound Estate. He described the exercise as “pure wickedness,” insisting that many of the affected residents had secured building permits from the relevant state authorities.

“Once an approval has been given by the relevant authority, you don’t have any right to demolish anyone’s house,” the former footballer said, calling the action a betrayal of public trust.

Emenike lamented that many of those affected were of Igbo origin, suggesting that the exercise disproportionately targets a particular group.

“This is pure wickedness. Igbos are in trouble in Lagos,” he declared, urging businessmen from the South-East to relocate their investments to their home states in order to protect their assets.

While the Lagos State Government maintains that the demolitions are part of efforts to clear illegal structures on waterways and restore drainage channels to prevent flooding, Emenike and several other critics argue that the policy lacks fairness and compassion for residents who claim to have followed due process.

As public debate continues, Emenike’s comments have reignited discussions about urban planning enforcement, property rights, and ethnic relations in Lagos.

The state government is yet to respond directly to the former footballer’s allegations of bias.

Following Emenike’s remarks, a counter-narrative emerged from groups supporting the government’s urban renewal efforts, asserting that the demolitions are strictly non-discriminatory and based purely on environmental laws. They pointed to official statements which emphasize that the cleared areas were critical to flood control and that the law is being applied uniformly, regardless of the property owners’ ethnic background. However, various civil rights and property advocacy groups have called for the Lagos State government to publish a verifiable list of all properties marked for demolition, along with the specific, legally-backed reasons for the action, to address the allegations of selective enforcement and ease the widespread fears among property owners.