Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, a socio-cultural association of the Ibibios in Akwa Ibom State, has raised concerns over the demolition of their community centre by the Lagos State government.
The Secretariat and Community Centre, situated at Rufai Close, off Rufai Street, Ojuelegba, Surulere, was duly registered under Title No. M07300 at the Lagos State Lands Registry, covering 758.136 square metres.
In a statement signed by the international president of the association, James Edet, and made available to journalists in Uyo on Wednesday, 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 noted that the demolition took place despite ongoing, peaceful negotiations and without any formal agreement or compensation. According to the statement, the Lagos State Government offered just N11 million for a property whose structure alone was valued at over N250 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,” urging 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 also 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 Olusola Sanwo‑Olu of Lagos State, Governor Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, and “all Nigerians of conscience, justice, and goodwill” to intervene.
The community further called on human‑rights advocates, cultural institutions, and the global Ibibio diaspora — including 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 group declared.
The Lagos State Government was urged to halt further actions on the site and engage in meaningful dialogue toward a resolution that restores the community’s dignity and secures its rightful place in Lagos’ multicultural landscape.
