Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has renewed the call for the state to be granted a “special status.”
He argued that the designation is long overdue given the state’s significant role as Nigeria’s economic engine.
The governor made the appeal during a visit by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) yesterday.
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Represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu welcomed the RMAFC’s on-the-spot assessment, which he said was a vital step toward ensuring greater fairness in the distribution of national resources.
He emphasised that the discussion around Lagos’ special status should be based on facts, not emotions.
“If it is truly recorded that Lagos generates 33% of the country’s GDP, it means that the state’s efforts significantly impact the progress of the country,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He highlighted the unique burdens placed on the state, particularly the maintenance of critical infrastructure like the Apapa and Tin-Can ports, which handle nearly 90% of the country’s imports.
The governor pointed out that in other countries, such infrastructure would be maintained by the federal government, but in Lagos, the state government bears the cost.
He warned that neglecting the state’s infrastructure and amenities would be detrimental to both the state and the national economy.
Sanwo-Olu also called on the RMAFC to recognise the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in its revenue allocation framework.
He argued that these LCDAs have been instrumental in bringing governance and development closer to the people since their creation in 2003.
In his remarks, Prof. Adekunle Wright, a Federal Commissioner with the RMAFC, said the commission’s visit was to evaluate the state’s request for a stabilisation fund to support major infrastructure projects.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by the state and affirmed the commission’s commitment to creating transparent, data-driven, and fair criteria for resource allocation across the country.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Finance, Abayomi Oluyomi, highlighted the state’s substantial infrastructure gap, which he estimated to be over N20 trillion.
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He noted that the state has invested over N1.1 trillion in infrastructure and development, yet still needs more support to address critical needs in areas such as security, water, sanitation, and housing.
Oluyomi stressed that because the state’s GDP accounts for half of Nigeria’s economy, any challenges faced by the state have a ripple effect on the entire nation.
