KINGSLEY EBERE
The Igbo Council of Ndieze in Lagos State led by their chairman, Eze Chika Nwokedi, has visited the Alaba International Market in Ojo LGA over the demolition of traders’ shops by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, and the Lagos State Task Force.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the visit was attended by the Ezes that cut across the LCDAs in the State and some well meaning Igbo stakeholders including the media, who accompanied Eze Nwokedi to the market and was received by the President General of Alaba International Market, Chief Mbonu Geoffrey and some of his executives.
Eze Nwokedi stated that the visit was a fact finding mission and on the spot assessment of the level of destruction of the property in the market and finding a way to alleviate the suffering of the affected traders.
After moving around with his entourage to the demolished site, Eze Nwokedi expressed shock over the level of damage caused by the demolition.
He however, promised to meet with the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to engage him on the demolition because he may not be properly briefed about what happened and the level of damage caused in the market.
He stated that the entire Ndieze in Lagos State led by Eze Nwokedi condemned the demolition of buildings and shops owned and occupied mostly by Ndigbo at Alaba International Market.
Nwokedi explained that he just assumed the leadership of the Council of Ndieze in Lagos State and solicited for Ndigbo support, stressing that he accepted to lead Ndieze to change the narratives and protect the interest of Ndigbo in Lagos State.
He explained that Ndieze have lined up some programmes for the Ndigbo in Lagos State and one of it is free legal services by creating office and engaging lawyers, who will assist Ndigbo in legal matters in the State.
Eze Nwokedi advised Ndigbo to always be cautious and do proper investigation before they buy any property in Lagos State and ensure that they abide by the laws of Lagos State.
The President General of the market, Chief Geoffrey, thanked Eze Nwokedi and the Council of Ndieze for coming to the market to console the traders, which he described as one of its kind.
He explained that what happened was still a shock to him and the leadership of the market including the traders because the traders had good relationships with both the Ojo Local Government and the State Governments.
Chief Geoffrey stated that he travelled to the East when he received calls that hundreds of armed Police officers with the Lagos State Government agency, LASBCA, came to the market and pasted notice giving the traders 24 hours to present their documents on the properties in the area, which many presented.
He stated that some of the traders actually presented the documents but that did not satisfy the authority who had made up their mind to demolish about 37 buildings comprising hundreds of shops owned by Ndigbo.
He stated that he did not suspect that the demolition was politically motivated because the traders had good relationship between the Ojo Local Government and Lagos State Government.
However, he stated that the manner the demolition took place suggested that there was a sinister motive behind the act because a company in conjunction with the Ojo Local Government had been sharing flyers over the construction of a mall in the demolished parcels of the land.