Igbo Union Issues 30-Day Ultimatum to Lagos, FG Over Demolition of Igbo-Owned Properties
The Igbo National Union Worldwide (INU-W) has issued a 30-day ultimatum to the Lagos State and Federal Governments to halt the ongoing demolition of properties allegedly owned by Igbo entrepreneurs, warning that continued silence over the matter could inflame ethnic tension across the country.
In a statement signed by its Administrative Secretary, Mazi Austin-Mary Ndukwu, the union condemned what it described as the “systematic targeting” of Igbo-owned businesses and assets in Lagos.
It accused both the state government and prominent Yoruba leaders of maintaining a troubling silence in the face of actions that threaten national unity.
“The recent wave of demolitions has caused anguish and despair among Ndigbo living in Lagos. These actions, carried out under various guises, are viewed as deliberate attempts to weaken our people economically,” the statement read.
The group urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately and call Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other influential Yoruba leaders to order.
It warned that failure to do so could undermine ongoing efforts to foster inter-ethnic harmony and national cohesion.
“The Federal Government must not ignore this growing injustice. Targeting the economic interests of the Igbo community in Lagos is a dangerous trend that could have far-reaching consequences for the stability of this nation,” the union said.
Accusing the Lagos State Government of pursuing a “dangerous agenda” to displace Igbos economically, INU-W alleged that many of the affected businesses had operated legally for years and contributed to Lagos’ economic development.
The union cautioned that “no ethnic group holds a monopoly on peace or power,” warning that sustained hostility against Igbos could provoke avoidable confrontation.
“We remind the Yoruba nation that the Igbo have survived far worse challenges in history, including the economic blockade and deprivation during the civil war. We will not be driven out of Lagos unjustly, but if the situation persists, we are prepared to respond decisively,” the statement added.
INU-W reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence and national unity but insisted that it would no longer tolerate what it termed “economic persecution” of its members in any part of the country.
