On Tuesday, the Abia State House of Assembly strongly denounced the recent demolition of commercial plazas and business properties owned by Igbo traders at Lagos’s Trade Fair Complex. The Assembly characterized these actions as “deliberate, insensitive, and detrimental to economic wellbeing.”
In response, the Assembly called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to promptly intervene to stop what it described as “orchestrated economic aggression” against Igbo entrepreneurs in Lagos, demanding compensation for those affected.
This stance emerged following an urgent motion presented by Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe, the representative for Bende North Constituency, during the plenary session held in Umuahia on Tuesday.
Ibekwe highlighted alarming reports that Lagos State Government’s bulldozers had razed multiple plazas within the Alaba and Trade Fair commercial hubs, areas predominantly occupied by Igbo business owners. “These demolitions have left hundreds of our people displaced, with investments worth billions of naira destroyed without prior warning or adequate compensation,” he lamented.
He urged the Abia State Assembly to press President Tinubu and the National Assembly to act swiftly to restore peace and prevent further economic assaults on the Igbo community in Lagos.
Presiding over the session, Speaker Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa condemned what he termed as governance double standards and ethnic discrimination in the treatment of Nigerian citizens. “It is widely acknowledged that the ongoing harassment and economic targeting of Igbo traders in Lagos is unusual and contradicts the principles of a united Nigeria, unless there are facts unknown to us,” Emeruwa stated. “We implore the President to exercise compassion and uphold justice. Every Nigerian is entitled to fundamental rights, and it would be tragic if government actions destroy livelihoods without due process.”
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The Speaker further instructed the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs to collaborate with other South-East legislative bodies and national lawmakers to submit a collective petition to the National Assembly.
The debate in Umuahia on Tuesday adds momentum to the mounting public discontent over the contentious demolitions that have unsettled Lagos in recent weeks. The Lagos State Government defends the demolitions, asserting that the structures violated urban planning laws and were erected on government-acquired land. Nonetheless, this justification has faced sharp criticism, especially from the South-East, where many view the demolitions as a targeted economic blow against Igbo traders who dominate commerce in the Trade Fair, Alaba, and Ladipo markets.
Since mid-September, these demolitions have displaced thousands of traders, escalating tensions among business groups and ethnic organizations. Prominent bodies such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the South-East Governors’ Forum have demanded an immediate cessation of the demolitions, highlighting the severe impact on small and medium-sized enterprises.
Echoing these concerns, Ibekwe stressed that the Abia State Assembly cannot remain passive while its citizens endure unjust treatment under the pretext of urban development. He clarified that the Assembly’s appeal for intervention is grounded in humanitarian and constitutional principles rather than political motives. “This is fundamentally about justice, equity, and equal protection under the law,” he affirmed.
In closing, Emeruwa called for ongoing dialogue between Lagos authorities and South-East leaders to avert further conflict. “The unity of Nigeria hinges on fairness,” he remarked. “No region should feel targeted for engaging in legitimate business activities.”
