One of Nigeria’s three major ethnic groups, the Igbo people are renowned for their resilience, industrious spirit, and unyielding tenacity in the face of adversity. From the bustling markets of Aba to the dynamic cityscape of Lagos, the Igbos have consistently demonstrated a rare combination of enterprise and adaptability.
It is this same enterprising nature that has seen them thrive in nearly every corner of the country and beyond, transforming not only their own lives but also the landscapes and economies of the places they call home, even temporarily.
Across Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve center, the presence and impact of the Igbo community are undeniable. From building multi-faceted products markets in Alaba to electronic empires in Idimota as well as Computer Village, the Igbos have not only built thriving businesses but have also created jobs, developed neighborhoods, and contributed significantly to local revenue generation. Their philosophy is simple yet profound: “Ebe onye bi ka o na-awachi” — where one lives is where one maintains.
Yet, despite this deep-rooted commitment to development and peaceful co-existence, recent events have raised urgent questions about the place of the Igbo in Lagos, and perhaps in other parts of Nigeria where their presence is often indispensable but hardly ever fully welcomed.
Fast-forward to 2023. During the 2023 general elections, the Igbo community in Lagos found themselves at the receiving end of targeted intimidation and violence. Voters were profiled, attacked, and in many cases disenfranchised simply because of their ethnic identity. In neighborhoods such as Oshodi, Surulere, and parts of Eti-Osa, Igbo voters were told in no uncertain terms that they were outsiders. Some were physically assaulted. Others were threatened with arson and eviction if they dared to vote for candidates not endorsed by the dominant political bloc.
This wave of ethnic profiling was not just disheartening, it was dangerous. It shattered the illusion of inclusion and revealed a deep-seated suspicion toward the Igbo, no matter how long they have lived in Lagos or how much they have contributed to its growth.
If the 2023 elections were a political assault, the recent renaming and obliteration of Igbo street names in Lagos is a cultural one. Streets that once bore Igbo names; symbols of identity, belonging, and historical contribution are now being renamed under the guise of “standardization” or “restoration.” These symbolic erasures strike at the heart of a people’s dignity and sense of place.
This is not just about street names. It is about rewriting history, about making invisible the contributions of a people who helped build Lagos into what it is today. It is a quiet yet aggressive message that says, “You do not belong here.”
Time for Retrospection: Nke Anyi Bu Nke Anyi
In the face of these humiliations and strategic erasures, the Igbo must pause and reflect. What is the worth of building empires in places where they are not truly wanted? How long can a people keep investing their sweat and genius into lands that offer them neither protection nor respect?
There is an age-old Igbo adage: “Nke anyi bu nke anyi, nkem bu nkem” – what is ours is ours, and what is mine is mine. This should no longer be a proverb for philosophy alone; it must now become a call to action.
Imagine what the South East would look like if even half of the Igbo investments in Lagos, Abuja, and other states were redirected home. Picture the skylines of Enugu, Awka, Abakeliki, Aba, and Owerri blooming with tech hubs, industrial parks, mega malls, and modern housing estates. The talent, capital, and creativity are already there, what remains is the political will and collective decision to look inward.
There is no better time than now for homecoming. The signs are clear: the days of unlimited hospitality in Lagos are over. The Igbo must begin to see this as not rejection, but redirection. A divine opportunity to reclaim their economic sovereignty, to build for themselves and by themselves, to ensure that future generations grow up in a land that values and protects them.
Let Lagos and others keep their streets and their names. Let us build new ones in our homeland streets that echo with our voices, bear our heroes’ names, and tell our stories proudly.
The time to bring the investments home is now.
The time to build Ala Igbo is now.
The time for homecoming has come.
“Nke anyi bu nke anyi. Let us return and rebuild.”
Comrade Clement C. Nwabuko – An Economist, Political Analyst and Good Governance Crusader, writes in from Abuja.
