9th November, 2012
Nigeria’s Lagos State Government has set January 2013 for the commencement of the registration of the estimated 21 million people resident in the state, Mr Akin Akiniyi, the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LSRRA),said today.
Akiniyi said the agency had commenced a pilot registration exercise with public servants, to test-run the project.
He said that the objective of the registration was to provide a database of all residents in the state for better planning and governance.
“Over 21 million people are estimated to be living in Lagos and there would be need for government to have their data base in its record.
“The registration exercise will be carried out in view of the security situation and the influx of illegal aliens into the state, Akiniyi said.
He said that all residents, irrespective of ethnic background, as well as foreigners– including tourists– would be captured in the exercise scheduled to hold between Jan. and March 2013.
“Government has the responsibility to cater for everyone residing in Lagos, regardless of the state or country they came from, “ he said.
Akiniyi said that resident identity card would be issue to those who would be captured during the exercise, to differentiate between legal residents and illegal immigrants.
He said that government would be able to accurately determine the overall resources required in formulating and implementing policies, projects and programmes, after the exercise.
Akiniyi advised all residents of the state to participate in the registration exercise to enable them gain access to government services.