Ethnic Tensions: Ndigbo Lagos Calls for Unity, Justice, and Mutual Respect
By kalu blessing
Amid rising ethnic tensions across Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State, Ndigbo Lagos the coordinating body representing all Igbo organisations within Lagos and its environs has called for unity, justice, and mutual respect among all ethnic groups in the state. In a statement jointly signed by its President General, Major General Obi Abel Umahi (rtd), and Secretary, Chief Chuma Igwe, on Wednesday, 6 August, the group reaffirmed the values that define the Igbo identity and their historic place in Lagos.
While acknowledging what it described as “recent ethnic unease and divisive rhetoric,” Ndigbo Lagos dismissed the so-called “Igbo takeover” narrative as a baseless, politically motivated falsehood designed to sow discord. “It is a fabricated, dangerous trope designed to incite fear and animosity,” the statement said. “This false narrative is not only corrosive but also undermines decades of collaborative efforts and peaceful coexistence.” The group expressed concern over symbolic actions like the recent renaming of streets that honour Igbo legacies, stating that such moves have deeper implications beyond administrative decisions. “Civic memory is not an administrative detail it is the heartbeat of inclusion. To erase names is to blur histories. We urge reflection, not retaliation.”
On the controversial phrase “Lagos is a no man’s land,” the group clarified that the expression, often attributed to the Igbo, was originally used in the 1940s by Jaja Anucha Wachuku an Igbo statesman in reference to Lagos’s role as a Federal Capital Territory, not to undermine Yoruba heritage.“The original context was a call for inclusion, not erasure,” they said. “It was a hope that Lagos could embody the best of Nigeria a city where diversity is not feared but embraced.”
A Message to the Igbo Community Ndigbo Lagos urged Igbo residents in Lagos to respond to provocations with measured calm and dignity, warning against being drawn into ethnic baiting. “Let your success speak louder than any insult. Let your dignity disarm hostility. Tone down the rhetoric. Resist the urge to match fire with fire,” the statement advised. “Our power lies not in noise, but in quiet excellence.”
Read more: Edo Governor Vows to Fix Roads, Backs APC Candidate in By-Election
To Yoruba Neighbour” The statement extended a hand of peace and partnership to Yoruba communities across Lagos. “We are neighbours, not rivals. Let us not allow the noise of politics to drown the quiet truth of our shared history. These bridges woven through kinship, commerce, and community are too sacred to be torn down by fleeting provocations.”
To the Lagos State Government The group urged the government to demonstrate inclusive leadership that recognises the diverse ethnic landscape of the state. “Revisiting policies or gestures that alienate any segment of its population will not be seen as weakness, but as wisdom,” the statement said. “Leadership is tested not in moments of ease, but in moments of tension.”
To South-East Political Leaders The group encouraged leaders from the South-East to be visible and vocal in safeguarding the interests of their people living in Lagos. “Lagos is home to millions of your citizens. Their welfare, dignity, and rights must be actively protected and diplomatically advanced,” it stressed.
To Igbo Leadership in the Diaspore Ndigbo Lagos called on diaspora leaders to engage constructively and diplomatically during tense periods. “In times of tension, the world watches. Let our diaspora be known not for reactionary outbursts, but for thoughtful engagement.”
Pathways to Peace and Progress The group proposed several initiatives aimed at fostering long-term harmony, including: The creation of an Inter-Ethnic Peace Council, The institutionalisation of cultural exchange programmes, Cross-tribal development projects, Inclusive civic commemorations honouring all ethnic contributions.
“Lagos is a city of dreams. And we, Ndigbo, are part of that dream. We did not arrive we have been here long enough to be seen. Let temporary tensions not spoil eternal ties. Let no political misstep destroy decades of unity. Let Lagos rise not in division, but in dignity.” The powerful statement calls for collective reflection and cooperation, urging all ethnicities in Lagos to uphold peace and mutual respect in the face of growing political and cultural provocations.
