In just less than 24 hours after The Southern Examiner broke the news that Ndigbo are intensifying their drive to relocate their businesses out of Lagos, over 200 persons have signed into the move.
As at Thursday night, we reported that close to 100 persons indicated interest to participate in the relocation conference billed for April 7.
Gingering the tempo of activities by the organisers, is the latest market fire in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.
There is a growing interest by peoples from states of Southern Nigeria – Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers – are joining Ndigbo to spark exodus out of Lagos.
The first planning conference for what is proposed as, “Eastern Nigeria Development Project” will last till Saturday, April 8.
Promoters of the project are out to fashion out a mega business empire that will cut across the Igbo homeland of Eastern Nigeria (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states) and those of the neighbouring South.
They are tagging the evolving business hub, “New Jerusalem City” in a bid to reflect their trust in God.
Igbo traders in Lagos were on Thursday morning greeted with another tragic news of a mysterious fire outbreak.
The incident occurred at the Olowu spare parts market in the commercial city. Some shops engulfed by the inferno contained air-conditioners for sale, parts of vehicles, and motorcycles, among others.
On Tuesday morning, a fire destroyed parts of Balogun Market on Lagos Island.
Confirming the incident, Jubril Gawat, a media aide to the state governor, confirmed the incident, pointing out that the state fire fighters were on ground to contain it.
Disturbingly, since the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll, life has not been easy for non-Yoruba in Lagos, particularly, the Igbo.
Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, got most of the votes in the city. He got 582,454 votes, ahead of the disputed President-elect, Bola Tinubu of APC who got 572,606 votes.
Lagos has been the main stronghold of Tinubu who dominated the affairs of the state as governor from 1999 through 2007.
On March 8, just a few days after the presidential poll, goods worth billions of naira were burnt down by unidentified arsonists, who invaded Akere Motor Parts and Allied Dealers Market, in the Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos.
Chairman of Akere Motor Parts and Allied Dealers Association (AMPADA), Izuchukwu Ubah, said people were allegedly threatening to deal with them for not voting massively for APC.
An aggrieved Igbo trader says the ethnic-inspired attack is getting too much, adding, “they are raiding Igbo people’s shops. I don’t know what Igbo people have done to these people, they are destroying everything and I lost some goods worth N20 million.”
However, the Global Director General of the Project, Vincent Anthony Ubani, says it is in the best interest of Ndigbo to return their investments to the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.
Ahead of their April 7 confab, Ubani said they are aiming to identify available sites where Ndigbo can use to start the relocation process in the interim.
Among those who have signed in newly are, Pastor Orji Ilo Orji of Enugu in Taraba, Tony Nnadi in Lagos, Engr. Chinelo Okeke in Abuja, Ernest Frank in Abuja, Jude.Chinonso in Port Harcourt, Anthony Iroegbu Abia, Obidike Osisiogu (UK), Chijioke Christian, Lagos, Samuel Ojo, Amb. Obiora Tony IPC Africa, Apostle Elekachi Azubuike, and Mercy Dickson UK Foreign Sponsoring Organizations Liaison Director
Also on the list are, Dr Chuks David, Nkpa, in Lagos, Architect Onkle Odigbo, Abuja, Amb. Ebube George Ebisike, Amb. Uchenna Ezeokeke, Ireland, Duru Nnemeka Solomon ,Onitsha, Zeofor Kelechi . UK, Eberechukwu Duru , Lagos, Igwe Francisca kasarachi, Eze Christian Rufus, Obinna Ikpa –
Lagos, Revd. Igurube Julius Okorie Director in Kuwait, Austin Onuchukwu Lagos, Dr Onyebu Monica Chinwe Abia Dr. Prince Ikechukwu Enugu, Solomon Chukwuemeka, Chukwuemeka Martin’s in Ogun, Iyk Nnadoro PH, Rev. Dr. Paul Chuxs Hezekiah, Lagos, Nnadi Chizoba Augustine – Lagos, Nweneka Godwin, Barr. Robert Omai. Lagos, Chukwu Michael, and Friday ThankGod Abuja
Others include, Israel Uche Ndukwe, Plateau, Christian Chinaga, Mazi Chris Chinaka, Ezeh Victoria Odigo – Abuja, Chris Onyenweaku (Lagos), Enger. Solomon Bethel Uche Awa, Hon D Vitalis Nonyelu, Enugu, Engr. Joseph Chibuzor Odueze, Winner Martins, Dr. Paul Wowhor, Sir Enyinnaya Elekwachi, and Emeritus Program Manager, Abia State Agricultural Development Program (ADP), Uche Uzomba,
Amaka Ezeh, Ijeoma Nduka, Ukpai John Chimaobi, Ruth Omoni, Mazi Ifeanyi Ibeya, Moses Akinusheye Iyishu, Ngwoke Benedict Sunday, Oriala, Chukwudi (Hon), Mark Fidelis Ejim, Osaro Ogieriakhi, Ebi Clifford Zuofa, and Osaro Ogieriakhi.
Ukpabi Eberechukwu, Obumneke Okaka Agbasi, Hon Izuogu Obumneme, Marvelous Ezenwa, Dr C I Eze, Ugwoke ibem Ugwoke, Abanihi Innocent, Ezeonu Nathalie, and Hon Chris Ibe Okoko.
Engr.Obumaduneme Chijioke Anumudu.Chinedu G.Ubani, Engr. Obumaduneme Chijioke Anumudu, Onyekachi Celestine, Gloria Kaduru, Benjamin Kalu, Patriot Obinna, Maduike Victor, Precious Okoli, Umeh Nwagu, Gozie Ikejieze J. Ikenna, Obire O, Andrew, Maurice Michael Gabriel , and Mercy Obiageri.
