Lagos Demolitions: Relocate Your Investments Home – ASATU Leader Tell Igbos

 

Igbos in Lagos state have been urged to consider relocating their investments home.

 

The call was made by the Prime Minister of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), Dr. John Metchi.

 

Meche said a huge stretch of land had been provided in Umueri community, Anambra East Local Government, for Igbo traders and other businesses to build an international market of global standard.

 

He stated this while reacting to the ongoing demolition of structures in some parts of Lagos State which has affected many traders from the South-East.

 

The demolition in areas like Lekki, Alaba Market, Ajao Estate, Abule Egba, Ladipo Market and others has raised serious controversy, with Ohaneze Ndigbo and other socio-economic groups calling for human-faced approach to such exercise in view of the harsh effect it is having on traders and other businesses.

 

But the Lagos State government, through the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources in the state, Tokunbo Wahab, has said that the demolitions were targeting only illegal structures built without approvals, adding that the move was aimed at restoring sanity.

 

In a statement on Friday, Metchie who is also the African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), said it was difficult at the moment to determine whether or not the demolitions were deliberately targeted at Igbo traders as some of the victims claimed, in view of the state government’s position that only illegal structures were affected.

 

Metchie said that the only available and long-term solution to the recurrent ugly occurrence of demolitions in Lagos was for Igbo traders and those engaged in other businesses, to take advantage of the situation to begin investment at home, adding that Umueri, which he said already had an international cargo and passenger airport, provided the best destination for investment.

“To that effect, Lagos, as a responsible government, should consider paying compensations to the affected traders and other businesses, to reduce the hardship caused by the demolitions,” he stated.

 

Metchie, who is also the President-General of Umueri General Assembly, said that the long term and permanent solution to the issue was looking back home.

 

“In Umueri, we have a large expanse of land that can accommodate an international market. Already Umueri boasts of an International Cargo and Passenger airport,” he further stated.