By Usman Usman Garba
Looking at the population size of Kano and Lagos States and other similarities as mega cities, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has revealed that, both states demand for one percent in nation’s revenue allocation formula.
He disclosed this when Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu paid him a condolence visit recently, over the death of Alhaji Sani Dangote, at Africa House, Government House, Kano, recently.
Responding to governor Sanwo Olu, he said “We are from mega cities. While Lagos is the most populous city in Nigeria and in West Africa, Kano is the most populous state in the Nigeria and second populous city in the country. Second to Lagos.”
He argued that, “We have similarities and we have same problems. Problem of managing population, problem of providing social services to the people and problem that you cannot determine who will use your facilities, your services.
“Because people are coming into our cities for almost 24 hours. Every second people are entering the two cities of Kano and Lagos. And you have no control over that. And they have to get the protection, the security.
“Since there is now an attempt to review the revenue formula of Nigeria, Lagos and Kano are demanding for one percent to be allocated to our states. So that we can take care of the circumstance of mega cities,” he pointed out.
Ganduje added that, apart from both being mega cities, Lagos is smarter “…because you are richer than Kano.”
On the one percent argument, governor Ganduje said “We have already made our submissions. Luckily enough we (Kano and Lagos) have the highest number of members of House of Representatives in the country. Kano has 24 legislators. So also Lagos, has 24 legislators in the Green Chamber.”
