Lagos residents request special city status from FG


The Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) have called on the federal government to grant Lagos state a special city status and allocate one per cent of the nation’s budget to its development.

The President of LERSA, Olorogun James Emadoye, who stated this in an interview in Abuja, said the call became necessary given the fact that the state is a commercial hub and a mega-city.

Emadoye said Lagos has the potential to contribute more to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but the metropolis’ potential was being curtailed by mobility issues.

“In the past 10 years, population explosion has affected Lagos more than any other part of the state. It now takes an average of three to four hours (especially on a weekday morning) to access Lagos Island from some parts of Lekki and about the same time on the return trip.

“Lagos, being the commercial hub of Nigeria is no doubt a mega city. It is wholly unfair the way Lagos has been treated since the seat of government relocated to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The Federal Government of Nigeria must declare Lagos a special city with at least one per cent direct allocation of the nation’s budget to the development of the city.

“Such declaration will see Lagos contributing more to the nation’s GDP and the end will be a win-win position for Nigeria,’’ the LERSA president said.

Emadoye said the mobility challenges of the city were solvable, urging the federal and state governments to combine efforts to introduce four rail lines into the city.

“One rail line should run from Epe to Marina, another from Ikorodu to Marina, Ota to Marina and the fourth, Badagry to Marina.

“There should also be connecting links to these major lines and the transportation problems of Lagos would be virtually solved,’’ he said.

Emadoye added that the Lekki region could also benefit hugely from the development of water transportation.

“It takes about 20 minutes from Badore to Marina by sea and the same time from Ogombo Town to Marina. The development of these alternate means of mobility will truly make Lagos a mega city.’’

The LERSA president said additionally, the ripple effect of reduced stress from transportation would increase the life expectancy of the average Lagos resident from the current level to maybe 60 years.

He urged that Lagos state and other such major cities be allowed to keep their Value-Added Tax (VAT) collection as a development fund, should challenges be encountered with funding from the consolidated funds.

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