Lagos State Government says it has earmarked N15 billion for Rebuilding Project/Trust Fund in the 2021 budget following the destruction of properties by hoodlums after the #EndSARS protest.
Sam Egube, Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget disclosed this on Thursday while giving the breakdown of the state’s 2021 budget.
Egube said the projected Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) for 2021 is N723.817 billion, with N60.31billion to be generated monthly.
“While N512 billion is expected to be contributed by Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS),” he explained.
The #EndSARS protest was a nationwide campaign against police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Nigeria which lasted for about two weeks across the country.
Although the government granted some of the demands of the protesters which included disbanding the SARS, the protests continued.
The protest, which was largely peaceful, was later hijacked by hoodlums who attacked protesters and destroyed public properties.
Also, peaceful protesters who gathered at Lekki toll gate on October 20 were also shot by men of the Nigerian army, causing the death of some while others were injured, investigations by Premium Times and CNN confirmed.
As it sparked global condemnation, the Nigerian government had since denied there was carnage at the Lekki toll gate.
‘Generating Revenue’
The commissioner said the state intended to achieve the set targets by expanding the tax net.
“We shall achieve this by expanding the tax net by simplifying the tax process, improving our transaction taxes and the appropriate use of technology in addition to improving the work environment, training and tools of our tax administration personnel,” he said.
“This will improve the efficiency in operations of all revenue generating agencies.”
According to him, huge revenue generating opportunities are abounds in the state— real estates, transportation sectors and markets generally.
“ We will continue to use data and intelligence to unravel revenue opportunities and leakages,” he said.
Speaking on production challenges within the oil sector, Egube said the government would continue to maintain a relatively conservative posture in its projection for Federal Transfers/Receipts compared to the annual run rate in 2020.
He said the Smart City project is targeted at deploying about 2,000 intelligent cameras in strategic locations around Lagos as well as leverage on technology to enhance security and traffic management in the state and would also enhance revenue generating efforts.
“This administration will in addition deliver a 3000km metro-broadband fibre infrastructure around the state through an ongoing PPP initiative,” he said.
“Furthermore, we will continue to invest in the Lagos state resident registration initiative in conjunction with NIMC to gather useful resident data and information for planning purposes.”
Health
The state also budgeted N105.988 billion for the continuous upgrading/renovation of health facilities and completion of on-going healthcare infrastructure, including Maternal and Child Care Centers
“A total sum of N105.988bn (as against a total sum of N111.775bn in 2020) was provided for the continuous upgrading/renovation of health facilities and completion of on-going healthcare infrastructure, including Maternal and Child Care Centers (MCCs); and the continued implementation of our health insurance scheme.”
“This represents over 23% increased provision for the health sector, thereby demonstrating the administration’s determination to ensure access to health care.”
“Some of the Major projects planned include: The completion and equipping of the New Massey Children Hospital, General Hospitals, Ojo, Construction of Infectious Disease Research Center, Yaba, Upgrading of e-Health Platform for Health Insurance, Rehabilitation & Upgrading of General Hospital, Lagos and Construction of the Oncology Center at Gbagada,” he said.
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