Dr Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has in a release he issued on Saturday explained the issues affecting Igbos in Alaba international market as routine environmental issues concerning structures blocking water passage.
However, Ohanaeze after investigation, has asked the Lagos environmental authorities to apply due diligence in their duties while it enjoined Igbos to remain calm.
Detail of the statement is hereby reproduced:
“The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has been drawn to several fake publication circulating on social media alleging a decision by the Lagos State Government to take actions to victimize the Igbo citizens domiciled in Lagos.
” Since the disturbing news broke out, we have made investigations in order to establish the true state of affairs. One of the reliable sources, Hon. Comrade Chinedu Ukatu, Member, Lagos State Market Advisory Council and President Ndigbo-Amaka Progressive Market Association, stated that “the Lagos State Environment and Development Authority has been issuing warnings as regards the obstruction of some water ways”. Ukatu added: “all that happened at Alaba and the emergency visit by the state government officials were directly about those blocking the free flow of water through the provided water ways”. Ukatu added that the directive is “not in any way related to plazas and shops on the markets or along the market road”. Ukatu enjoins all and sundry to “disregard the statements and video messages trending on the Internet and admonished that such propaganda is not necessary for the Igbo at this time”.
“Another Alaba resident, Chief Ikechukwu Okolo stated: “The truth is that, some structures were erected on waterways, thereby obstructing drainages and causing flooding, especially during the rainy seasons. According to Okolo, “the owners of the affected structures have since been notified, for months, but as we can see, each time the execution order was to be effected, corrupt Government officials would get compromised, and the flooding challenge continues, until this time”. Chief Evaristus Ozonweke, an Ohaneze chieftain, resident in Lagos, has also validated the above position.
“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR (Ahaejiagamba) expresses concern over the lingering problems in Lagos. While urging the Lagos State Environment and Development Authority to exercise prudence and best considerations in discharging their duties, he asks the Igbo in Lagos to remain calm. He has therefore indicated a pressing need to visit Lagos and the South West in the next few weeks. He is very optimistic that during the visit, all the challenges confronting the Igbo in Lagos will be addressed.”
However, Following the demolition exercise by Lagos Goverment at Alaba International Market, traders in the market have appealed to Ojo Local Government to come to their aid, saying the demolition was a ploy to give out the land to a Chinese company at their own expense.
The Lagos State Government on Friday had begun process toward removal of distressed buildings in the Alaba International Market in Ojo Local Government of the state.
The enforcement team of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Task Force embarked on the joint exercise.
The team which went round to re-seal several buildings that had been marked with previous multiple quit seal notices by LASBCA, said the measure was to prevent disaster.
They advised occupants on the need to move out of the structurally defective buildings which they said had become too dangerous for habitation.
However, in an interview with newsmen Mr. Geoffrey Mbonu, Chair of the Fancy goods section disclosed that they had gotten approval as far back as 1998 from the local government before erecting their shops.
He went further to allege that there was a Chinese company close to the market that wanted to build ultra-modern market and motor parks.
He explained that it was this company that government gave CofO and they said there is empty land which they wanted to build the shops on.
He alleged that, to achieve the alterior motive, they eventually went to LASBCA to claim that some of the buildings here are in bad condition for them to pull them down.
He said, “Alaba international market is not a residential building. It has been in existence since 1998.
“The truth of the matter is that there is this Chinese company at the back of our Secretariat where we normally have our union meeting, where we welcome Governor or any other corporate organization that wants to come and visit us. That is where we take decisions and conduct elections, that is our administrative Block.
“So, there is this company that came, may be they are affiliates to Chinese company. They said they want to build ultra-modern market and motor parks
“They went to Local Government, may be local government now gave them CofO and they said there is empty land which they want to build these things on.
“The owners of the empty land came and started fighting them to the extent that they went to Force Headquarters in Abuja. Thereafter, they went to court, they are still in court as I am talking to you.
“They now went to LASBCA and gave money to say that some of the buildings are in bad condition for them to pull down that is exactly what is happening now. The local government is aware of what I’m talking about.
“Even the ‘omoonile’ that built these plazas and shops have to us. They know that the land belongs to them. Majority of these shops have allocations from local government.
“They had gone to Alaba Rago but the Hausa people did not give them chance.
“If you go there now, you would see their excavator, they are excavating because the place is a swampy area. These are the people that want to claim the place, I don’t know why they should be doing the things in Alaba international market.”
He therefore appealed to the local government to call them to order, adding “Let the stakeholders come and let’s see CofO and the survey plan. Let’s know the buildings that are affected so that we can know if it would work or not.
“The Secretariat was not inclusive before. Last week they came here with large number of mobile policemen like 50 putting fear in people nd creating tension.”
In his argument, the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr Gbolahan Oki said that government was going to demolish to save lives.
Oki said he usually panicked everytime it rained because of the likelihood of any such buildings collapsing to cause mayhem.
He said the government valued lives of residents which were more precious than cost of any property.
According to him, government was taking proactive step and will demolish about 17 of the buildings which were not part of the 349 widely publicized for demolition.
Oki said the occupants had been served series of notices since 2016 to carry out some necessary actions but they had been adamant and resorted to harassment of enforcement officials.
He added that the agency had to seek the help of the Lagos State Task Force because of the occupants constantly used thugs to assault LASBCA officials whenever they embarked on enforcement.
The general manager said he had suddenly developed phobia for rain because of the constant fear of defective buildings collapsing hence the proactive step to save lives.
“All those buildings are going to go down between now and Monday. LASBCA has given them enough notice. Everybody that lives in Lagos State, their lives are worth more than the cost of any building or the cost anybody is going to make on it .
“This is because when a building is going to come down, it is not going to give you a notice that I am coming down,” he warned.
