Following reports that the Lagos State Government has begun the process of demolishing shops/businesses belonging to the Igbos at the popular Alaba International Market, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Saturday, said its investigations have proved that the rumours were false.
The Apex social-cultural group in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Alex Ogbonnia, said it was “drawn to several fake publications circulating on social media” alleging that the state government was carrying out the demolition to “victimise” Igbos in the state.
According to the group which contacted some of its members in lagos, including Chinedu Ukata, a member of the Lagos State Market Advisory Council, the President Ndigbo-Amaka Progressive Market Association, and Ikechukwu Okolo, its checks confirmed that the affected buildings were those erected on waterways which were “blocking the free flow of water and not about plazas and shops” in the market and that the owners of the affected structures had been adequately notified.
It would be recalled that the Lagos State Government earlier explained that it would demolish 17 buildings in the market because they were “physically distressed” and that the “lives of businessmen and women within the market would be put at risk” in the event of imminent collapse.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, said the distressed buildings also posed a danger to other adjoining structures in the market.
Mr Oki added that the buildings had been marked for demolition many times since 2016, but the occupants disregarded the notices.
