Lagos State Residents Registration Programme Will Foster Development – Asugha
Staff Writer
The Special Assistant to the Imo state governor on Lagos/Southwest Liaison, Hon. Lisa Asugha-Enogha has said that the proposed compulsory registration for all Lagos residents, tagged: ‘Lagos State Residents Registration Programme’, LSRRP, would foster development for the well-being of the people in the State.
Asugha-Enogha who made this disclosure while unveiling benefits to why Imo citizens residing in Lagos must participate, emphasized that the exercise will provide a database of all residents in the state for better planning, development and good governance.
However, she 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, adding that all residents, irrespective of ethnic background or other variables would be captured in the exercise as government had the responsibility to cater for everyone, regardless of where they come from.
Estimating that over 16 million people are living in the State, she said, “It’s an idea that came in 2011, when Governor Fashola directed that a fresh registration should be conducted for all residents living in the state, of which Governor Okorocha liked and bought the idea. To this end, the governor sent a bill to the State House of Assembly to establish the Lagos State Residents’ Registration Agency, LSRRA, and for connected purposes”.
Furthermore, Okorocha’s aide added that the registration would further strengthen the communication between the government and the people, whereby providing efficient planning and allocation of resources to the people directly.
“LSRRA aims to develop a working database of all residents of Lagos State, with a view to providing better services to the people. The underlying principle being that with such a database, the state agencies can plan and assess their programmes and services in a more scientific way. It will also keep the people more close and in connection with the government and their programmes”.
“Also, there is an ongoing registration exercise of Imo residents in Lagos at the Imo state liaison office; we expect this present development by the Imo and Lagos state governments to foster the welfare of Imo indigenes in Lagos, such as in the areas of immigration status, security, commerce and trade, health and mental welfare and many other key areas of human development.
“As we intend to make sure that Imo indigenes benefit from most projects back home here, the governor has been able to establish a more workable means of reaching out to our people because they are very dear to him. I believe that is why he insisted that it should be made free to carry everybody along”. To this end, Hon Lisa Asugha-Enogha stressed that the process will allow government to determine the overall resources required to formulate and implement policies, projects and programmes when the number to cater for is known. “It will also allow for proper allocation of resources to the appropriate sectors of the economy to meet the needs of residents of the state.”