Igbo Union Issues 30-Day Ultimatum Over Demolitions of Igbo-Owned Properties in Lagos
Story: written by Daniel October 15,2025
The Igbo National Union Worldwide (INU-W) has raised alarm over what it describes as a continuing pattern of demolition targeting Igbo-owned homes and businesses in Lagos State, and has given the state government a 30-day ultimatum to resolve the matter.
In a statement signed by its Administrative Secretary, Mazi Austin-Mary Ndukwu, INU-W accused both the Lagos State Government and senior Yoruba leaders of failing to speak up while the demolitions proceed — a silence the union warned could inflame ethnic tensions and undermine national unity.
The union said recent clearance operations have disproportionately affected Igbo entrepreneurs and property holders, alleging the actions risk economically marginalising Ndigbo who contribute substantially to Lagos’s commercial life. INU-W described the demolitions as a “dangerous pattern” that, if unchecked, could threaten peace and social cohesion.
The group appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other stakeholders to halt demolition activities that it views as discriminatory. INU-W urged the federal government to ensure fairness and protect the rights of all citizens.
“The continued demolition of our people’s properties, and the federal authorities’ silence, deepen fears of targeted economic displacement,” the statement said.
INU-W demanded that the Lagos State Government open talks with affected owners and reach amicable settlements within 30 days. The union warned that failure to engage would leave it no choice but to pursue “appropriate and lawful measures” to defend the dignity and economic interests of Igbo residents.
While stressing a preference for peaceful resolution, the union reminded other communities that no single group has a monopoly on peace, and cautioned against actions that could provoke unnecessary confrontation.
The ultimatum underscores rising tensions over property clearances in Lagos and signals a call for urgent dialogue between state authorities, federal officials, and community representatives to prevent escalation.
