Lagosians Support Registration of Residents

The plan to register every resident of Lagos State, South-West Nigeria, through an agency that may be set up by the state government has caused excitement among Lagosians many of whom have agreed that it would aid security of lives and property of people in the state.

They spoke with P.M.NEWS at the venue of the one day public hearing organised by the House of Assembly on a bill to establish the state Residents’ Registration Agency.

According to them, the registration would help ease the cumbersome efforts of the police at ridding the state of criminals and those with questionable character.

One of the residents, Victor Falodun, said the registration was long expected.  According to him, with the registration, the average Lagosian would not be skeptical of moves by his neighbours or those around him.

“The police have tried when it comes to reducing the rate of criminal activities in the state, but with the systematic registration of residents, people would no longer be scared to carry out their normal daily activities any longer,” said Mr. Mutiu Alegbe, another resident of the State. Mr. Tunji Ibidun, another resident of the State told P.M. NEWS that it  would assist the government to know the population of the state.

The bill, which was sent to the House by the executive arm of the state government, would among other things give room for development through adequate and effective planning for the people of the state.

Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on Science and Technology, Omowumi Olatunji-Edet, who is in charge of the bill, said it would help to  create a reliable database for all residents.

“It would also provide useful information for social welfare, security, business, employment opportunities, easy identification of residents,  providing reliable information for making policy planning and implementation, and so on,” she said.  When passed into law, Lagosians would be provided residency cards

It would also help in generating health statistics in the state for health insurance scheme and verifying compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

However, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Executive Director of Nigeria Network of NGOs advised that the “State Residents Associations” should be made to be members of the board.

She also asked that there should be a data protection clause in the law to ensure privacy of individuals while only those with integrity be appointed into the agency.

Tunde Tijani, another stakeholder present at the hearing recommended massive awareness of the public on the significance of the bill.

—Eromosele Ebhomele