Dr. John Metchi, the Prime Minister of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), has encouraged Igbo residents in Lagos State to contemplate relocating their investments back to their homeland.
Metchi highlighted that the Umueri community in Anambra East Local Government has designated a substantial land area for Igbo traders and various businesses to establish an international market meeting global standards.
His remarks were in response to the ongoing demolition of structures in several parts of Lagos State, affecting numerous traders from the South-East region. The affected areas include Lekki, Alaba Market, Ajao Estate, Abule Egba, and Ladipo Market, among others, generating considerable controversy. Groups like Ohaneze Ndigbo and other socio-economic organizations have urged a more considerate approach due to the adverse effects on traders and businesses.
However, the Lagos State government, through the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, clarified that the demolitions were solely targeting illegal structures without approvals, intending to restore orderliness.
In a statement on Friday, Metchie, also the African Director of the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), expressed difficulty in determining if the demolitions deliberately targeted Igbo traders, given the state government’s stance that only illegal structures were affected.
Metchie proposed that the enduring solution to the recurring demolition challenges in Lagos would be for Igbo traders and other entrepreneurs to leverage the situation by investing in their homeland. He advocated for Umueri as an ideal investment destination, citing its existing international cargo and passenger airport infrastructure.
“What is happening in Lagos, in terms of demolition of properties belonging to, or housing businesses, owned mainly by Igbo traders is very unfortunate and worrisome.
“But when you look at it from the claims and counter-claims, you would see that it is difficult at this point to draw a conclusion.
“This is because, while the affected traders say that the demolition was deliberately targeted at them and their businesses because they are Igbo, the state government is brandishing documents, claiming that only illegally built structures were being removed, in order to restore sanity.
“Therefore, the only window we have at the moment is to advise the state government to trade with caution in carrying out the exercise. This is because it is wrong to bring down the means of livelihood of people without providing them alternatives.
“Again, whether the structures were built illegally or not, it is still officials of the government that signed the allocations, maybe after collecting underhand inducements.
“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.
“This is therefore a call to Igbo traders and other businesses in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria and the world to look back and think home.
“No matter what you have abroad, you are still a stranger there. While we believe, and propagate one united Nigeria, it is good to invest at home or close to 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.
