A few days ago, the Lagos State Government announced that it had realised an income of 5 Billion Naira on land sales in Lagos in the last one year. 

The last few months as well, Lagos State Government has imposed a series of taxes that include Sales Tax and other taxes collectible on land use in the State.  Additional agencies tasked with fund-raising drive such as LASTMA, KAI, etc, have been set up and operating in arbitrariness and viciousness.

Lagos remains one of the richest and high income generating States in the country, yet life in the State is grinding to a halt.  The population in the State continues to expand and inspite of the huge taxes collected by Lagos State Government, very few infrastructural development or expansion is taking place.

In the business nerve center of the state, which is Victoria Island, roads are impassable, traffic congestion is choking, making life unbearable for businesses and residents.

In the area known as ‘new Lagos’, or the Lekki axis, the Lagos-Epe Express way remains the only link road between new Lagos and Victoria Island and the rest of the State.  The government continues to escalate the cost of land in this area, imposing huge sums and development levy without the corresponding evidence of development in the area.

Residents in the Lekki area spend more than one hour connecting between Lekki and Victoria Island everyday.  Government talk of constructing new roads in the area remains all talk, no action and so there is talk of Fourth Mainland Bridge, Coastal road, Lekki-Ikoyi link road, etc.  Residents in the area have not seen the evidence on ground that government is even willing or able to implement any of these. 

Lagos State appears to be very creative in devising fund raising strategies, this creativity does not manifest in implementing programmes aimed at making life more meaningful to the people inspite of these huge practices.

With the rains, Lagos roads have again come into focus.  Contracts for road maintenance and construction do not aim to achieve quality.  Cost and conditions of living in Lagos continues to worsen.

CRP calls on the Lagos State Government to begin to address in serious and sustainable terms the aspirations of Lagosians who are burdened with multiple taxes and levies.  There is the need for a long-term development programme for the State.