By DAPO AKINREFON
LAGOS— THE Lagoon State Movement has restated the need for the creation of the state out of Lagos State saying it would assist in fast tracking development in the rural areas.
Speaking on behalf of the movement, its Public Relations Officer, Mr Olufunmilade Ayantuga, said the creation was imperative because people in the rural areas have been marginalised.
Accompanied by Messrs Obafemi Adesanya and Adeniyi Lawal, during a visit to Vanguard corporate office in Lagos, Ayantuga said: "Lagos State has 20 local governments as recognised by the Federal Government, but the proposed Lagoon State will have seven of the 20 local governments – Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Apapa, Eti-Osa, Kosofe, Shomolu and Ikorodu local governments.
When you go round Lagos, you will discover that the rural areas are completely neglected by the state government and when we look at it more seriously, it may not be the fault of the state government because the resources at their disposal is not sufficient. Since 1967, when states were created, others have been split into two and some six.
If you compare Lagos with old Kano State, which share similarities in terms of population, you will see the injustice done to Lagos.
While Lagos State remained unchanged, Jigawa was carved out of Kano State. The local governments in Jigawa state are 26, while Kano has 44 but Lagos state still has 20 local governments.
When it comes to sharing allocation and resources, Lagos will earn lower than what Kano and Jigawa states get.
When it comes to representation, Lagos will still be shortchanged. And so, we felt with the population in Lagos State, it has gone beyond the management of the people in Lagos to service 19 million people. But if the focus of the man at the helm of affairs is limited, development will definitely go round."
Vanguard Nigeria