Governors Abdullahi Ganduje and Babajide Sanwo-Olu say Kano and Lagos should have one per cent of Nigeria’s proposed new revenue allocation formula.

The demand is contained in a statement signed by Mr Ganduje’s chief press secretary, Abba Anwar, issued on Tuesday.

Mr Anwar stated that Mr Ganduje made the case when his Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu paid a condolence visit over the death of Sani Dangote.

“Looking at the population size of Kano and Lagos states and other similarities of megacities, both states demand one per cent in the new nation’s revenue allocation formula. We have already made our submissions,” the statement quoted Mr Ganduje as saying.

He noted that the two states were lucky to have the highest number of lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

“While Lagos is the most populous city in Nigeria and in West Africa, Kano is the second after Lagos. We have similarities, and we also have the same problems. Problem of managing population, problem of providing social services to people, and you cannot determine who will use your facilities, your services because people are coming into our cities for almost 24 hours,” Mr Sanwo-Olu was quoted as saying in the statement. “Every second, people are entering the two cities of Kano and Lagos, and you have no control over that. They also have to get the security services.”

The Lagos governor added, “Since there is now an attempt to review the revenue formula in Nigeria, Lagos and Kano are demanding one per cent. That will enable us to take care of the circumstances of megacities.”

(NAN)