Tribunal Orders Fresh Census In 14 Lagos LGs

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The National Census Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital has ordered fresh census in 14 Local Government Areas in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.

This followed the nullification of the figures released by the National Population Commission, NPC, after the 2006 national census.

Also, the Lagos State Government has called on the National Population Commission, NPC, to urgently order recount in the affected councils.

The National Census Tribunal nullified  the census figures released by the NPC in 14 LGs in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, saying that the counting was illegal and did not give the accurate census figures of the state.

At a news conference today at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, said since the tribunal had ordered NPC to recount the population in the 14 councils, the commission should immediately put machinery in motion to do the recount.

“In the final analysis, the official national census results for 14 old Local Government Councils (now 40 LGAs and LCDAs) in Lagos State have been nullified. This vindicates the resolve of the State Government to base its physical and economic plans on a projected population of 17,553,924 in 2006 and over 21,000,000 currently.

“We now expect that the National Population Commission will urgently announce plans for a recount as ordered by the Tribunal,” he said.

Ipaye stated that following the census exercise conducted by the NPC nationwide from March 21 to 27, 2006, and particularly in the various local government areas in Lagos State, which gave Lagos a census figure of 9,113,605, many informed commentators within and outside the state had considered this figure to be far too low.

“Most importantly, a shadow survey carried out by state officials during the exercise showed that Lagos State should have had a population of at least 17,553,924. A good number of residents from various communities within the state protested and, eventually, had petitions filed on their behalf when the Census Tribunal was established,” he stated.

He added that the 2006 census was conducted on the basis of twenty  Local Government Areas as listed in the 1999 Constitution, saying out of these, massive complaints came out of 19 Local Government Areas, such as Agege, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, Bagadry, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ifelodun, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ojo, Oshodi/Isolo, Shomolu and Surulere.

“Nineteen  separate petitions were therefore filed on behalf of aggrieved residents of these councils at the Census Tribunal. The Tribunal sat for about 18 months and finally passed judgments in all 19 cases between 19 and 20 June, 2013. In 14 of these cases, which cover at least 40 of the new Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas, the census results were closely considered and declared null and void,” he disclosed.

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Ipaye said that the Tribunal, however, dismissed petitions filed on behalf of residents in five Local Government Councils, such as Shomolu, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Mushin and Oshodi-Isolo on the ground that sufficient proof was not presented by the petitioners.

The Attorney General said government might decide to appeal the upholding of the census figures in the five local governments after thoroughly studying the judgment of the Tribunal.

In the judgment of the tribunal, recount was ordered in the following areas in Amuwo-Odofin, such as Festac Town, Agustin Ajagun Street, Amuwo-Odofin GRA, Jakande Estate, Aguda, Raji Estate and Rasak Street; Eti-Osa-Ribadu Road by Prison barracks, Residents of Obalende, residents of all houses in Idunmojokun Street, Ajeniya Street, Jakande Estate, Olaiya Street, Odo Street, all residents in office depot Majek First Gate Ajah, Badore, Ajah, Alagaso road, Awoyaya and areas in Alimosho such as Ayobo, Egan, Baruwa, Ikotun-Egbe, Idimu, Iyana-Ipaja, Akinugun Bus Stop and Omotosho Areas.

In Lagos Island, recount was ordered in Okesuna Street, Lagos Island, Ita Akanni Sreet, Idumagbo Adenike Street Lagos Island, Obadina Street, Bamgbose, Lewis Street, Bamgbose, Campbell Street while in Lagos Mainland, recount was ordered in Abule Ijesha, Adekunle, Akoka, Alagomeji, Ebute-Metta, Iwaya, Oko Oba, Otto and Yaba.

Surulere, recount was ordered by the Tribunal in Ibidun Street, all Residents of Surulere area, Tejuosho, Lawanson, Ikate and Ijesha Orile area, while in Epe the tribunal ordered recount in Oniyanrin village, Offirun village, Orepele village, Ilape, OyetomiOluwakemi village.

In Ifako-Ijaiye, recount will be done in Abule Egba, Alagbado, IjuIfako, IjuIshaga, Iju Station, Oke Koto, OkoObaa, the houses in Osola Street, Balogun Bus Stop, Lamina Street, Alakuko.

In Badagry, recount was ordered in Atanda Street, Tozukame Street, Sowja, Okoroafor and Tako Streets in Badagry Siagbon Compound Badagry, Ajaoba Street and in Apapa, areas to be recounted are Itugbon Community opposite Liverpool, Oyedeji Street, Apapa Wharf, Lisabi Street, Kareen Street, riverine areas, Esugbayi Street, Marine Beach, Lawani Close off Qaskiya, Ijora Badia, Okoya Street, Agbabe Street and Marine Beach Apapa.

In Agege, recount was ordered in Agege Coker Village, Dopemu, Iju, Ishaga, Mangoro, Ogba, Oke Koto, OkeObaa, Orile, Agege, Papa Ashafa, and Oguntade Street Oba. In Ojo, the tribunal ordered recount in Ijusu Street, Mavbokoro Street, Maibun Street, Agboroko Street and Isahu Street.

In Ajeromi-Ifelodun, recount will be done in Ajegunle, Amukoko, Kirikiri, Olodi – Apapa, Tolu, Ijora areas while in Ikeja, recount will be held in Agindinbi,  Airport Area, Alausa, Anifowose, Ikeja G.R.A., Ojodu, Oke-Ira, Omole, Onilekere, Onipetesi, Opebi, Agbede, Oloti Agbakoba Street and Airforce Base.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga

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