Lagos State Government has urged the National Population Commission (NPC), to conduct fresh official census in 14 local government Areas in the state in line with the latest ruling by the National Census Tribunal.
The call was made by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, in Alausa during a press conference which was also attended by commissioner for Information and strategy, Lateef Ibirogba and commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Obafemi Hamzat.
Ipaye noted that a fresh recount was very apt at the moment in the affected areas considering the physical and economic projections of the government and most importantly since the Census Tribunal judgment nullified the figures released by NPC.
He noted that the 2006 census was conducted on the basis of 20 local government areas as listed in the 1999 Constitution.
In his words: “In the final analysis, the official national census results for 14 old Local Government Councils (now 40 LGAs and LCDAs) in Lagos State have been nullified. This vindicates the resolve of the state government to base its physical and economic plans on a projected population of 17,553,924 in 2006 and over 21,000,000 currently. We now expect that the NPC will urgently announce plans for a recount as ordered by the tribunal,” he said.
“Most importantly, a shadow survey carried out by state officials during the exercise showed that Lagos State should have had a population of at least 17,553,924. A good number of residents from various communities within the state protested and, eventually, had petitions filed on their behalf when the Census Tribunal was established,” he stated.
Ipaye also said that after the census was conducted by the NPC nationwide from March 21 to 27, 2006, gave a census figure of 9,113,605 in the various local government areas of Lagos State, many observers both local and foreign had considered this figure to be far too low.
The areas where recount has been ordered by the tribunal judgment are listed as follows; Amuwo-Odofin like Festac Town, Agustin Ajagun Street, Amuwo-Odofin GRA, Jakande Estate, Aguda, Raji Estate and Rasak Street; Eti-Osa-Ribadu Road by Prison Barracks, Obalende, Idunmojokun Street, Ajeniya Street, Jakande Estate, Olaiya Street, Odo Street, office depot Majek First Gat Ajah, Badore, Ajah, Alagaso Road, Awoyaya and in Alimosho places such as Ayobo, Egan, Baruwa, Ikotun Egbe, Idimu, Iyana Ipaja, Akinugun Bus Stop and Omotosho Areas.
In Lagos Island, recount was ordered in Okesuna Street, Lagos Island, Ita Akanni Street, Idumagbo Adenike Street Lagos Island, Obadina Street, Bamgbose, Lewis Street, Bamgbose, Campbell Street while in Lagos Mainland, recount was ordered in AbuleI jesha, Adekunle, Akoka, Alagomeji, Ebute-Metta, Iwaya, Oko Oba, Otto and Yaba.
In Surulere, recount was ordered by the Tribunal in Ibidun Street, Tejuosho, Lawanson, Ikate and Ijesha Orile area, while in Epe the tribunal ordered recount in Oniyanrin village, Offirun village, Orepele village, Ilape, OyetomiOluwakemi village.
In Ifako-Ijaiye, recount will be done in Abule Egba, Alagbado, Iju Ifako, Iju Ishaga, Iju Station, Oko Oba, Osola Street, Balogun Bus Stop, Lamina Street and Alakuko.
In Badagry, recount was ordered in Atande Street, Tozukame Street, Sowja, Okoroafor and Tako streets, Siagbon Compound, Ajaoba Street and in Apapa, areas to be recounted are Itugbon Community opposite Liverpool, Oyedeji Street, Apapa Wharf, Lisabi Street, Kareen Street, riverine areas, Esugbayi Street, Marine Beach, Lawani Close, off Qaskiya, Ijora Badia, Okoya Street, Agbabe Street and Marine Beach Apapa.
In Agege, recount was ordered in Agege Coker Village, Dopemu, Iju, Ishaga, Mangoro, Ogba, Oke Koto, Oke Obaa, Orile, Agege, Papa Ashafa, and Oguntade Street Oba. In Ojo, the tribunal ordered recount in Ijusu Street, Mavbokoro Street, Maibun Street, Agboroko Street and Isahu Street.
In Ajeromi-Ifelodun, recount will be done in Ajegunle, Amukoko, Kirikiri, Olodi-Apapa, Tolu, Ijora areas while in Ikeja, recount will be done in Agindinbi, Airport Area, Alausa, Anifowose, Ikeja G.R.A., Ojodu, Oke Ira, Omole, Onilekere, Onipetesi, Opebi, Agbede, OlotiAgbakoba Street and Airforce Base.
The census figures released by the NPC in the afore-mentioned 14 LGAs in Lagos were nullified by the tribunal on the basis that the counting was illegal and did not give the accurate census figures of the Lagos.
It was also learnt that 19 separate petitions were filed on behalf of aggrieved residents of these councils at the Census Tribunal which sat for about 18 months and has finally passed judgments in all 19 cases between 19 and 20 June, 2013.
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