Ibibio Community Raises Alarm over Demolition of Building by Lagos Govt
Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, a foremost socio-cultural association of the Ibibios in Akwa Ibom State has raised alarm over the demolition of their community centre by the Lagos State government.
They noted that the Secretariat and Community Centre, located at Rufai Close, off Rufai Street, Ojuelegba, Surulere was duly registered under at the Lagos State Lands Registry with 758.136 square meters.
In a statement signed by the international president of the association, James Edet, and made available to journalists in Uyo today, the group described the action by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) — an agency of the Lagos State Government — as “one of the darkest moments in the history of the Ibibio Nation” and a “direct assault on our collective identity, dignity, and heritage.”
The community said the demolition occurred despite ongoing, peaceful negotiations and without any formal agreement or compensation. According to the statement, the Lagos State Government has offered a paltry 11 million naira for a property whose structure alone was valued at over 250 million naira more than fifteen years ago.
“The property was acquired through the selfless sacrifice and collective labor of our forebears. It represented our community’s enduring contribution to the social, cultural, and civic fabric of Lagos. Its destruction is not merely a physical act — it is the demolition of our history, pride, and presence in this city,” the statement read.
The group emphasized that they are not seeking financial compensation but “justice and restoration,” calling on the Lagos State Government to provide a replacement property of equal or greater value and to respect the community’s right to maintain its cultural and administrative base in Lagos.
The statement further highlighted a perceived double standard, noting that while other ethnic groups operate freely and own property in Ibibio‑dominant Akwa Ibom State, the Ibibio community in Lagos faces “discrimination and dispossession.”
They appealed to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo‑Olu of Lagos State, Governor Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, and “all Nigerians of conscience, justice, and goodwill” to intervene.
They also called on human‑rights advocates, cultural institutions, and the global Ibibio diaspora — which includes chapters in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, South Africa, and across Nigeria — to add their voices.
“Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio shall not be intimidated or broken. Our unity, pride, and heritage remain indestructible,” the community declared.
The Lagos State Government was then urged to halt further actions on the site and to engage in meaningful dialogue toward a resolution that restores the community’s dignity and secures its rightful place in Lagos’ multicultural landscape.
DAILY POST/ Abdullah Oladipo
Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, a foremost socio-cultural association of the Ibibios in Akwa Ibom State has raised alarm over the demolition of their community centre by the Lagos State government.
They noted that the Secretariat and Community Centre, located at Rufai Close, off Rufai Street, Ojuelegba, Surulere was duly registered under at the Lagos State Lands Registry with 758.136 square meters.
In a statement signed by the international president of the association, James Edet, and made available to journalists in Uyo today, the group described the action by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) — an agency of the Lagos State Government — as “one of the darkest moments in the history of the Ibibio Nation” and a “direct assault on our collective identity, dignity, and heritage.”
The community said the demolition occurred despite ongoing, peaceful negotiations and without any formal agreement or compensation. According to the statement, the Lagos State Government has offered a paltry 11 million naira for a property whose structure alone was valued at over 250 million naira more than fifteen years ago.
“The property was acquired through the selfless sacrifice and collective labor of our forebears. It represented our community’s enduring contribution to the social, cultural, and civic fabric of Lagos. Its destruction is not merely a physical act — it is the demolition of our history, pride, and presence in this city,” the statement read.
The group emphasized that they are not seeking financial compensation but “justice and restoration,” calling on the Lagos State Government to provide a replacement property of equal or greater value and to respect the community’s right to maintain its cultural and administrative base in Lagos.
The statement further highlighted a perceived double standard, noting that while other ethnic groups operate freely and own property in Ibibio‑dominant Akwa Ibom State, the Ibibio community in Lagos faces “discrimination and dispossession.”
They appealed to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo‑Olu of Lagos State, Governor Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, and “all Nigerians of conscience, justice, and goodwill” to intervene.
They also called on human‑rights advocates, cultural institutions, and the global Ibibio diaspora — which includes chapters in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, South Africa, and across Nigeria — to add their voices.
“Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio shall not be intimidated or broken. Our unity, pride, and heritage remain indestructible,” the community declared.
The Lagos State Government was then urged to halt further actions on the site and to engage in meaningful dialogue toward a resolution that restores the community’s dignity and secures its rightful place in Lagos’ multicultural landscape.
DAILY POST/ Abdullah Oladipo
