Demolished property belonging to Ibibio community in Lagos
Demolition of the community centre in Lagos belonging to Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, a socio-cultural association of the Ibibios of Akwa Ibom State has sparked outrage as the affected property was properly registered by the Lagos state government.
The Ibibio community in Lagos has also raised alarm over the demolition and forcible seizure of its historic cultural hub, the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio Secretariat and Community Centre, located at Rufai Close, off Rufai Street, Ojuelegba, Surulere.
The property, registered under Title No. M07300 at the Lagos State Lands Registry, spans 758.136 square metres and has served for decades as a beacon of Ibibio unity, cultural celebration, and social service in the South-West region.
In a statement issued today and signed by the International President of the association, James Edet, 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 for a property whose structure alone was valued at over ₦250 million more than fifteen years ago.
“The property was acquired through the selfless sacrifice and collective labour 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. They are 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 Sanwo‑Olu of Lagos State, Governor 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 has been 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.
