”When Igbos came to Lagos, it was basically swampy but they converted it into a very wonderful, beautiful headquarters we see today in Nigeria” – Ohanaeze President, Iwuanyanwu

Emmanual Iwuanyanwu, the President of Ohana’eze Ndi’Igbo, asserts that Igbos played a pivotal role in the development of Lagos, transforming it into its current state.

In a widely circulated video, Iwuanyawu highlights that Igbos arrived in Lagos during its tenure as the capital of Nigeria, making substantial investments in the state. He emphasizes that Igbos, often regarded as the heroes of Lagos, contributed significantly to the city’s growth, turning it from a swamp into the thriving metropolis it is today.

According to him; ‘’Lagos was accepted as the capital of Nigeria. Igbos, most of them are dead today, our forebearers rose to the challenge. The challenge at that time was an investment, massive investments to make the capital Lagos a proper, befitting headquarters for Nigeria. That is how Igbos scattered all over, moved into Lagos by a sense of patriotism. Igbos came into Lagos, found some swampy land, and bought the Land. Igbos when they came into Lagos, they never came there to take anybody’s property. They came there, bought the land, and converted swampy land into habitable places. They built businesses, they built homes, schools, they developed Lagos. In effect, without the enterprise, of the patriotism of Nigerians like the Igbos, many other Nigerians did the same but it will appear that because of population, Igbos were in Large numbers. These pioneers, our forebearers are the heroes of the time, the heroes of what we call today a very strong Lagos. When they came there, Lagos was basically swampy but they converted it into a very wonderful, beautiful headquarters we see today in Nigeria”