The Lagos State government has put the current population of the state at around 21 million, making it 10 per cent of Nigeria’s population, which was recently put at 167 million by the National Population Commission.
In an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, said even though the state had yet to conduct another census, it established that the population was 18 million in 2006.
He said, “Although, we have not conducted any census since 2006, we however counted 18 million residents. By our projection, population should now be about 20 to 21 million.”
The increase of 18 million in 2006 to 21 million in 2011, means that the state’s population rose by an average of half a million annually.
Ibirogba attributed the rise in population to the fact that Lagos is the social and commercial hub of the country.
In response to grim predictions of overpopulation and environmental disasters in Lagos, the commissioner said the state government was aware of the projections and was consciously investing in transportation, security, housing, health care and the environment to mitigate the possible effects of overpopulation.
He said “From the 1960s, Lagos has always been the centre of attraction. Lagos always had large population. Out of every 10 Nigerians, nine want to come to Lagos. Many people think it is classy to live and own a house in Lagos. About 60 per cent of school leavers want to get a job in Lagos. Our state is cosmopolitan in nature with people of diverse backgrounds. It has always been like this, so there is nothing to suggest a population explosion. Nothing is getting out of hand.”
He added, “Because of the need to maintain the facilities on ground as we build new ones, government has given everybody the task of protecting available facilities.
“We are investing in every sector of our society. Recently we delivered 429 housing units to Lagosians and we are working on facilities in our hospitals and schools. We are also increasing efforts to ensure that traffic is flowing freely.
“We are telling people if you don’t have anything doing on the road, stay at home and do your business on the phone. We have also built jetties in different places to boost water transportation and our light rail project is on. So generally, if you look at all these, you will know that we are managing our population well, so there cannot be population explosion in Lagos.”
Ibirogba also debunked rumours that the state government had given transport fares to indigent, jobless residents, sending them back to their hometowns.
via Punch ...
P.S DON'T HATE ME BCOZ OF WHAT COMES OUT OF MY MOUTH, I DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT MYSELF, SO phyukOFF..
Posted: at 21-11-2011 02:55 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Why would some people sleep on the floor in Lagos when they can have a good room in their own state? Why stay in Lagos when your annual rent can build you a flat outside Lagos? If you have no functional business in Lagos don't stay there, move out and go start a life somewhere else. For example, Duncan Mighty is not Lagos-based but he is very well known. I Go Die (the comedian) is not Lagos-based and he is very popular and his house in Benin is a masterpiece. Don't die hustling in Lagos when you can make it in other states. God bless Nigeria.
Posted: at 22-11-2011 08:29 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
Taofeeqy2k at 22-11-2011 10:20 AM (12 years ago) (m)
Lagos is definate a very populous town during the working week - Monday to Friday. A lot of people come in to Lagos from neighbouring town like Ibadan, Ogun, Togo, Benin Republic and even Ghana. But at the end of the day, they all go back 'home'. Peolpe living in Akute, Agbado, Sango, Mowe, Alagbole and so, are they Lagosians?
When the next census is counted, all this people will be counted with Ogun State and not Lagos. Same goes for the men and women who works in Lagos but lives in Ibadan.
LAgos is the commercail nerve of the country,no one can deny it that honour and glory. But that there are 20 million people living in Lagos, I disagree completely with that figure.
Eko o ni Baje. Lagos Working, let's keep it working!
Posted: at 22-11-2011 10:20 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie
prettyife at 22-11-2011 10:33 AM (12 years ago) (f)
this is interesting more population more poverty why can the govt give law concerning high rate of childbirth in our country, pple are much and our want are unlimited for the limited resource we have which is really affecting the development in our country, pple are increasing everyday and it is the poor pple that are giving birth to many children without having the resource to train them at the end of the day u will find out that those children are the ones misbehaving, so our leaders need to do something about this before it will be too late.
Posted: at 22-11-2011 10:33 AM (12 years ago) | Newbie
prettybon at 22-11-2011 11:55 AM (12 years ago) (f)
Thumb up for the government but u guys stilk have alot to do considering the birth rate issue.this is the real cus of populated area,the governmnt shud pls limit the birth rate of our country which is the only way to do away with poverty.
Posted: at 22-11-2011 11:55 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
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