Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos Deputy Governor, has stated that the state receives about 6000 new entries each day, with approximately 3000 preferring to remain without known addresses.
Dr. Hamzat stated at the 2024 Annual Directors Conference Dinner that the city’s estimated population of 27 million is straining its budget of N2.2 trillion (around $1.3 billion), which pales in comparison to New York State’s $237 billion budget supporting a population of 19.5 million.
Dr. Hamzat, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, emphasized the significant financial discrepancies between Lagos and similar international urban areas, pointing out that New York’s budget for child protective services alone exceeds the combined budgets of Lagos and five other Nigerian states. He claimed that these resource constraints make it difficult to provide necessary services and infrastructure for Lagos’ fast rising population.
Dr. Hamzat ascribed some of Nigeria’s socioeconomic issues on family structure breakdowns, indicating that there are over 130,000 examples of men abandoning their families in Lagos alone. “The family unit must be strengthened,” he stated, adding that sustainable social development hinges on family stability.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
