A cultural debate has reignited after Reno Omokri warned settlers in Lagos against erasing the city’s indigenous identity.
Omokri stressed that even if settlers grow and outnumber indigenes, local culture must remain binding. According to him, settlers should respect the traditions of their host communities.
He argued that ignoring this principle could make Nigerians view settlers as invaders rather than neighbours.
To drive his point, Omokri cited England’s recent immigration measures. Britain, he said, introduced new policies to safeguard culture by reserving 100 job categories exclusively for citizens, shutting out migrants.
Drawing parallels with Lagos, he insisted the city was a kingdom long before Nigeria existed. “Respect them. Do not go to Lagos and try to make it a No Man’s Land,” Omokri wrote. He described attempts to dilute Lagos’ heritage as selfish and wicked.
Omokri added that many settlers choose communities like Lagos because of the stability created by indigenous traditions. Disregarding those same traditions, he warned, undermines the cultural balance that attracts migrants in the first place.
His argument has since sparked strong reactions online. Some say Omokri is protecting heritage, while others accuse him of fueling division.
