Lagos begins Residents' Registration

Ahead of the statewide residents registration exercise later in the year, Lagos State Government commence a pilot residential registration for civil servants.

General Manager of Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA, Mrs. Yinka Fashola, said, weekend, that the exercise would also allow the state allocate resources evenly to meet the needs of its residents.

Fashola said when the statewide exercise commences, it would be a continuous one and would give residents opportunity to prompt renewal of their information.

She added that about 337 registration centres, including centres located in the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas, had been earmarked for the commencement of the programme.

She said, "The main purpose of the registration is for planning and the efficient allocation of resources. It is not a census. The issue here is that there is no point in planning for so many people when you don't know who they are, where they live, what their road, water and electricity needs are. The only way to know is to go out there and register them.

"A live pilot begins on Monday with a manageable chunk of people so that in the event that there is the need to review, or fix anything we can easily do that without any serious damage."

The card issued from the registration point is expected to give residents access to health, transportation and other government and non-governmental services in the state.

Stating that the project began four years ago, Fashola, added that the agency having consulted with stakeholders, had trained about 600 registration officers and 41,000 teachers for the exercise.

When questioned about the registration of beggars, destitute and street urchins, Fashola said no resident would be left out in the registration exercise which is expected to commence by mid-June.

She said, "The truth is that everybody is coming from somewhere. No matter where you are in the world, you have an address.

"Even for the prostitutes and purdahs, I have female officers who will camp them in a hall and register them. Anyone who has lived in Lagos state for a minimum of six months will be registered."