Lagos APC Defends Federal Allocation, Highlights Overstretched Infrastructure.
Lagos, Nigeria – The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has robustly defended the federal government’s allocation of funds to Lagos, arguing that the state’s infrastructure is severely overstretched due to its role as Nigeria’s economic and demographic powerhouse. In a statement issued on Wednesday, 3 September 2025, APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo dismissed claims that Lagos is “over-pampered,” asserting that the state’s contributions to the national economy and its unique challenges justify significant federal support.
Oladejo described Lagos as “Nigeria in microcosm,” emphasising its status as the nation’s commercial hub, housing over 21 million people and generating over 55% of Nigeria’s Value Added Tax (VAT) and more than a third of non-oil revenue. Despite this, Lagos received only ₦531.1 billion in federal allocations in 2024, equating to just 3.48% of the total shared from the federation account. “Lagos is not over-pampered; it is overburdened, over-performing, and under-credited,” he stated, highlighting the state’s disproportionate economic contributions compared to its federal receipts.
The APC underscored the immense pressure on Lagos’s infrastructure, driven by rapid population growth and internal migration. Public schools are strained by the daily influx of migrant children, requiring constant expansion and teacher recruitment. The state also grapples with coastal erosion, urban pollution, and overstretched policing, often mitigated through state-funded initiatives like the Lagos Security Trust Fund. Oladejo noted that Lagos’s roads, hospitals, and housing face relentless demand, with the state relying heavily on internally generated revenue to address these challenges.
The party renewed its call for Lagos to be granted special status, a proposal long supported by figures like President Bola Tinubu and the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. “This is not a partisan request but a matter of national survival,” Oladejo said, describing Lagos as a “national asset” and a “federating hub” that welcomes all Nigerians, from traders in Alaba to retirees in Lekki. He argued that the city’s role as Nigeria’s de facto capital of commerce, culture, and continuity warrants formal recognition and enhanced federal support.
The statement also addressed recent controversies over federal projects in Lagos, including the reported ₦2.9 trillion allocated for infrastructure. Oladejo clarified that such investments, like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Lekki Deep Sea Port, benefit the entire nation by boosting trade and economic growth. He urged the National Assembly to act on the special status request, emphasising that Lagos’s success is critical to Nigeria’s overall prosperity. As the state continues to shoulder immense infrastructural burdens, the APC’s defence highlights Lagos’s indispensable role in driving Nigeria’s economic and social progress.
