By: Pentho Goldmark The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims that the Federal Government gives L...
By: Pentho Goldmark
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims that the Federal Government gives Lagos undue privileges.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party’s spokesman, Mr. Seye Oladejo, said Lagos deserves special recognition because of its unique role in the nation’s survival.
According to him, Lagos is not just another city, but “Nigeria in microcosm” — a place built on vision, hard work, and inclusiveness. He argued that it is unfair to suggest Lagos enjoys unmerited federal attention, stressing that the state is the “engine room of the federation.”
Oladejo highlighted that Lagos contributes more than 20 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, about 55 percent of VAT revenue, 65 percent of corporate headquarters in the country, and nearly 70 percent of maritime imports and logistics activities.
“These are not speculative figures,” he said. “They are hard facts sustained by deliberate governance, not federal indulgence.”
Even after Abuja became the official capital, he said, Lagos has remained the country’s commercial and cultural heartbeat — home to Nigerians from all backgrounds, and even a retirement haven for statesmen who see it as home.
But this inclusiveness, he explained, comes with heavy pressures. With a population of over 22 million, Lagos struggles with infrastructure overload, overstretched public hospitals and schools, coastal erosion, waste management challenges, rising housing costs, and high security demands.
Oladejo stressed that the state often funds its own security through initiatives like the Lagos Security Trust Fund, while also supporting the unemployed, widows, artisans, and migrants from other states.
Despite these pressures, he said, Lagos continues to remain functional, progressive, and peaceful. He pointed out that in 2024, the state received only ₦531.1 billion from federal allocation — just 3.48 percent of the total revenue shared — even though it generates over half of the nation’s VAT and more than a third of non-oil revenue.
“What Lagos has earned is not privilege, but respect,” he said. “Lagos is not over-pampered. Lagos is overburdened, over-performing, and under-credited.”
The APC spokesman maintained that the call for a Special Status for Lagos is not about pity but about fairness and national interest. He recalled that from the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to President Bola Tinubu, and even in past National Assemblies, the idea of Lagos having a special status has been repeatedly raised but never implemented.
“Lagos has given much to Nigeria’s economy, to its unity, and to its people,”he said. “It has carried burdens, absorbed shocks, and provided opportunities for millions. The National Assembly must rise above politics and do what is right.”
Oladejo urged lawmakers to act with foresight and ensure Lagos receives the recognition it deserves. “Nigeria cannot succeed if Lagos is ignored,” he concluded.
Photo credit: Vanguard News
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