The Association of Igbo Town Unions (ASITU) has petitioned several international bodies, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the ECOWAS Court of Justice, over what it calls the “systematic demolition” of properties belonging to Igbo traders and investors in Lagos State.
Speaking at a press conference in Umuahia, Abia State, ASITU’s National President, Chief Emeka Diwe, accused the Lagos State Government of conducting “economic cleansing” through the targeted demolition of Igbo-owned structures and businesses.
“Nigeria is gradually dying from the cancer of ethnic discrimination and selective justice,” Diwe said, alleging that institutions had failed to uphold fairness and equality.
Flanked by members of the group’s national executive council representing various Igbo communities, Diwe said the petition was submitted after repeated attempts to engage Nigerian authorities were ignored.
“We have not lost faith in Nigerian institutions, but they have consistently failed to respond to our documented complaints. That is why we have turned to regional and international bodies for intervention,” he explained.
The Lagos State Government has previously defended the demolitions, saying the affected buildings were erected on waterways. However, ASITU described that claim as misleading, insisting that the properties were lawfully acquired and approved by relevant agencies.
“These properties were duly approved. Such actions send a disturbing message to investors that property rights in Nigeria are insecure and that ethnicity may determine how justice is applied,” Diwe said.
He warned that the destruction of legitimate businesses could damage investor confidence, threaten jobs, and tarnish Nigeria’s reputation internationally.
According to ASITU, most demolition notices were issued only a few days before enforcement, leaving property owners without time to seek legal redress. The group also accused officials of disregarding valid approval documents during the demolitions.
“Many of these buildings had valid permits issued by the same Lagos State Government that later tore them down. This is not law enforcement; it is the deliberate erasure of livelihoods and a violation of constitutional guarantees of equality and justice,” Diwe said.
While urging affected traders to remain calm, ASITU encouraged Igbo entrepreneurs to invest more in their home region to strengthen local economies.
“To our brothers and sisters in business, let us embrace the philosophy of Aku Ruo Ulo, let wealth return home,” Diwe advised. “When we invest in our homeland, we create jobs, security, and dignity for our people.”
He stressed that the association’s petition was not a call for secession but a demand for fairness, mutual respect, and equal treatment for all Nigerians.