30/09/2025
“The Bitter Truth: Why Many Igbos Keep Losing in Lagos”.
I am an Igbo man, and though it may hurt to say, sometimes we must tell ourselves the bitter truth. The recent demolitions happening in Lagos have sparked outrage across social media, with many quickly blaming government bias, corruption, or tribal prejudice. But if we are honest with ourselves, not every case is about persecution. Many times, the problem lies with us, our failure to respect rules and our unchecked hunger for profit.
Igbos are known everywhere for our resilience, hard work, and entrepreneurial drive. These are qualities to be proud of. But what happens when the same spirit is not guided by discipline? Too often, we rush into investments without proper due diligence, or worse, we knowingly cut corners, building in places clearly marked for drainage, setbacks, or public car parks. The question is: how do you expect to win in court when the evidence shows you are in the wrong?
Take for example plazas erected on land designated for parking spaces or along water channels. For a moment, remove sentiment: who benefits when such structures are allowed to stand? Who suffers? It is the same community; traders, customers, and residents who face daily stress from flooding, traffic congestion, and poor planning. When government moves in to enforce its laws, it is not always out of malice, but out of necessity.
This is not to say Lagos is blameless. Authorities must do more to provide affordable, well-planned spaces for business, and enforcement should always be consistent and fair. But at the same time, we as Igbos must learn that success is not just about how much money we make, but how responsibly we make it. An investment of millions cannot automatically override the law of the land. If we fail to build on solid legal and ethical foundations, we set ourselves up for painful losses.
The truth is, this issue is bigger than Lagos, bigger than tribe, it is about discipline, planning, and accountability. If we continue prioritizing money over rules, we will keep repeating the same cycle of building, demolishing, and lamenting. True progress for us as a people will come when our hard work is matched with respect for the law and the environment we operate in.