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Lagos State is an administrative region of Nigeria, located in the southwestern part of the
country. The smallest of Nigeria's states, Lagos State is the second most populous state after Kano State,and arguably the most economically important state of the country, containing Lagos, the nation's largest urban area.
History
Lagos State was created on May 27, 1967 by virtue of State (Creation and Transitional Provisions) Decree No. 14 of 1967, which restructured Nigeria’s Federation into 12 states. Prior to this, Lagos Municipality had been administered by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Lagos Affairs as the regional authority, while the Lagos City Council (LCC) governed the City of Lagos. Equally, the metropolitan areas (Colony Province) of Ikeja, Agege, Mushin, Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry were administered by the Western Region. The State took off as an administrative entity on April 11, 1968 with Lagos Island serving the dual role of being the State and Federal Capital. However, with the creation of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja in 1976, Lagos ceased to be the capital of the State which was moved to Ikeja. Equally, with the formal relocation of the seat of the Federal Government to Abuja on 12 December 1991, Lagos Island ceased to be Nigeria’s political capital. Nevertheless, Lagos remains the center of commerce for the country.
Government
Since its creation in 1967, the state has been administered either by a governor and a House of Assembly in civilian or quasi-civilian (under Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida's administration) federal administrations, or by Sole-Administrators or Military Administrators in military dispensations . Since December 2007, Yoruba has been the 2nd official language of debate and discussion for the House of Assembly after English.
Administrative Divisions and Local Government Areas
Lagos State is divided into 5 Administrative divisions, which are further divided into 20 Local Government Areas, or LGAs:
Demography
Lagos State is the smallest state in Nigeria, yet it has the highest population.
According to the 1991 national census, Lagos State had a population of 5,725,116 out of a national total of 88,992,220. However, the preliminary results of the 2006 census show that Lagos State has now 9,013,534 inhabitants out of a national total of 140,003,542. This is nonetheless less than what was anticipated. Authorities of Lagos State have consequently attacked the results of the 2006 census, accusing the National Population Commission of having undercounted the population of Lagos State, an accusation strongly denied by the National Population Commission.
People
While the State is essentially a Yoruba-speaking environment, it is a socio-cultural melting pot attracting both Nigerians and foreigners alike.
Indigenous inhabitants include the Aworis and Ogus in Ikeja and Badagry Divisions respectively, with the Ogus being found mainly in Badagry.
There is also an admixture of other pioneer settlers collectively known as the Ekos.
The indigenes of Ikorodu and Epe Divisions are mainly the Ijebus with pockets of Eko-Awori settlers along the coastland and riverine areas. |
