The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has renewed calls for the National Assembly to grant Lagos special status, citing its outsized economic contributions and unique role as Nigeria’s commercial, cultural, and logistical hub.
APC spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, made the call on Wednesday, stressing that the demand is based on logic, verifiable data, and national interest — not partisan politics.
Oladejo described Lagos as the “engine room of the federation,” built on vision, sacrifice, and inclusive governance. He noted that Lagos accounts for over 20 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, about 55 percent of VAT revenue, 65 percent of corporate headquarters, and 70 percent of maritime imports and logistics activity.
“These are not speculative figures,” Oladejo said. “They are hard data, sustained by deliberate governance, not federal indulgence. Long after Abuja became the official capital, Lagos remains Nigeria’s de facto capital of commerce, culture, and continuity. It is where Nigeria meets itself — in its diversity, its ambition, and its complexity.”
He argued that Lagos is not “over-pampered” by the federal government, citing its meagre 3.48 percent share of the 2024 federal allocation despite generating a significant portion of the nation’s VAT and non-oil revenues.
According to Oladejo, Lagos bears a disproportionate burden in infrastructure, healthcare, security, waste management, and education — challenges made worse by rapid population growth and migration.
“As a megacity of over 22 million people, Lagos must constantly reinvest in roads, bridges, drainage, and transportation — often from its internally generated revenue,” he said.
“Public hospitals cater not just to Lagosians but to hundreds of thousands of people from other states. Public schools absorb the children of
internal migrants daily, necessitating continuous teacher recruitment and infrastructural expansion. Coastal erosion, urban pollution, and overstretched policing are realities Lagos faces every day.”
Oladejo described Lagos as a “national asset” and “home to all Nigerians,” pointing out that many retired public servants, governors, ministers, and generals settle in Lagos after their service because it offers security, inclusiveness, and opportunity.
He urged lawmakers to “rise above regional politics” and accord Lagos the special status it deserves, warning that failure to do so risks undermining a state that serves as Nigeria’s economic lifeline.
“Despite the enormous pressure, Lagos remains functional, progressive, peaceful, and growing,” Oladejo said. “But this growth must be matched with deliberate federal support if we are to sustain Lagos’ role as the nation’s economic and cultural heartbeat.”
