Igbo Deportaion: Lagos commits no error - Ipaye

The Lagos State government has said that it has committed no error on the  deportation of Igbos that was carried out recently.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye while briefing journalists on the controversies that trailed the relocation of some Igbo indigenes from Lagos,dismissed the argument that the state acted against the law.

He said the decision to transport the affected people to their home state was based on their request after due consultation with their state of origin.

He said, 'A lot have been said about this, it has fueled a lot of speculations and drawing bad blood. But this is a simple routine matter which has been happening to people all over the country, be it Yoruba, Igbo or Hausas, who has no social support living in the state.

So, they requested that the government should assist them in going back home.That is where they can find their family and get people to reunite with.

'We have said it that we wrote to the government in question that it should come to the assistance of the people, since we couldn't get their response, we work with these individuals to help them return home.

It was really a primary matter of assisting the people involved.  It was not a punitive measure or that anyone has no right to come to Lagos State.

'We don't need to justify that, because Lagos has been playing host to every Nigerians and non Nigerians of different walks of life.  If you do any sampling today in the civil service, market, private sector etc, we have such a diverse means to justify that Lagos is a good host to everybody.' He added.

He therefore called on Nigerians to understand the issue from those arguments on what to do to such people who has no relations and nowhere to live and at the same time indicated their willingness to return to their homes.

He concluded that the state has been given support for free health, education and other social services for Lagosians without considering where they came from