Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Monday, said the proposed compulsory registration for all residents of the state, tagged, ‘Lagos State Residents Registration Programme, LSRRP, would soon begin.
He said his administration would complete 152 inner roads, to add to the existing 65 on going reconstruction of roads across the state under the current fiscal year, bringing the roads set for reconstructions to 217. It is part of measure to ease traffic in the state.
Fashola made the disclosure at an event to mark his administration’s 1,700 days in office since 2007, when he was first elected governor. He was re-elected in the April 2011 general elections.
He said the registration would start before the end of the year, adding that its objective was to provide a database of all residents in the state for better planning and governance. Over 18 million people are estimated to be living in Lagos.
Fashola said the government was also carrying out the exercise in view of the security concerns raised by the influx of illegal aliens into the state lately.
He said all residents irrespective of ethnic background or other variables would be captured in the exercise, pointing out that government has the responsibility to cater for everyone, regardless of where they come from.
He said: “I use the word ‘residents’ deliberately and advisedly, because it applies to every person of whatever faith, colour or ethnic group, who is a Nigerian, and who lives in Lagos. The benefits will be immeasurable. I have received a number of text messages and emails expressing concern about the presence in our state of people categorised as aliens from other countries.
“Until such a time as we begin to provide identification, which this programme will do, it will be difficult to separate immigrants from residents, especially as I remain mindful of our treaty obligations regarding freedom of movement within the ECOWAS sub-region.”
“We had commenced a pilot registration exercise with the public servants to test run the project before coming to the larger public,” he said.
Fashola, said the card apart from being used as identification would also be used by residents to access government services.-dailytimes
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