The British annexed Lagos in 1861 in order to protect Akitoye’s son and successor, foil Kosoko’s bid to return, and secure a base for further activities.

The British were not yet willing to assume the expense of maintaining an administration in Nigeria. To reduce costs, Lagos was administered first from Freetown in Sierra Leone, along with Gold Coast forts such as Elmina, and later from Accra (in present-day Ghana); only in 1886 did Lagos became a separate colony. A consul was maintained at Fernando Po to oversee the lucrative palm oil trade in the region called the Oil Rivers.

The protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the protectorate of Northern Nigeria were amalgamated to the colony of Lagos in 1914.

What this brief history is telling us is that lagos was an independent colony from both the southern and northern protectorate for good 53 years. Lagos had its own economy and it was sustainable for a period.


Mordern Independence of Lagos


With the new dispensation into civilian rule in 1999 Lagos has once again begin to enjoy the privileges and independence it once did back in the 19th century. Prior to 1999 lagos influence was reduced to a pitiable, deplorable and neglected state by the military juntas that ruled Nigeria from 1984 to 1999. A state with a vast human resources yet waiting every month for the grant giving to it by the federal Government. The grant was basically use to pay salaries and the rest got filtered away into the various Governors that ruled the state. The infrastructures in the state decayed by every passing second, minute, hour and every day since 1984. I once joked to a friend that some one who travelled out of lagos in 1984 and have not been back since would still recognise the city as the same nothing has changed.

The coming of Tinubu and the fall out with the Federal Government.


Tinubu became the Governor of Lagos state in 1999 obviously with the same mentality like the previous past administrators of the state. But unlike in the past loyalty to the center is subjective depending on the party you are . Tinubu in order to effect positive changes to all nook and corner of the state created more LG. This singular act infuriated the government in Abuja, culminating with the withholding of grants meant for lagos state. There is the popular saying innovation is the mother of invention. Tinubu knew lagos had only one resources and that is human, he now capitalised on these resources by been innovative with the sole aim of driving the revenue generated internally up. It was a gamble and it paid off, the state was generating enough revenue internally that they soon forgot about the federal grant ( albeit temporary )  and where embarking on projects and completing such projects on time. Lagos had discovered it own gold like the black gold in the Niger delta, Lagos gold was human, as long as enough humans continue to live and work in lagos the revenue generation exercise will continue unabated and how much can be generated is anyone’s guess.

The Coming of the Messiah


The next of Governor of lagos state Babatunde Fashola was part of the Tinubu team and was fully aware how much was generated by the internal generated drive. He ( Fashola ) now took the exercise to the stratosphere and the advantage Fashola had over Tinubu  was a change of government in the centre and the new administration in Abuja preached the gospel of due process and the need for the rule of law to be respected. The regime change in Abuja became a blessing and bonanza to the lagos state government, not only are they generating 3 times what Tinubu’s Goverment was generating they were also getting their grants from the FG and all withheld money was paid. Lagos now is experience one of the fastest growth rate in the country despite all the mini civil war in the delta – “If I can use that expression” and the huge money the FG is spending in Abuja in other to make it the number place of choice in Nigeria.

Lagos has benefited from


1. The hostility in Delta – A lot of companies have transferred there opertions to lagos.

2. The Niger delta Governors between 1999 to 2007 were said by many political commentators that they were one the most corrupt Governors in this new civilian dispensation. Ibori and Odili were said to have provide arms to the militants in the delta in order to harass their political enemies. Whether there is any truth in such allegations time will tell. Although Rotimi Amechi the current Governor is trying his best to undo the damages that has been done to rivers state in general and Port Harcourt in particular.

3. Fashola’s zeal to make the city a 20th century city with all amenities

4. There might be political understones to Fashola’s style of ruling only time will tell if he is eyeing the presidency in the months and years to come. Nigerians are seeking for their home made Obama.

5. Lagos tend to get the bulk of Diaspora Investment in Nigeria.

6. Disaporas working within the Fashola Government has help the government employ new ways in driving revenue up for the state. I will say the lagos state government is using skilled Nigerians to achieve some of fashola’s dream.

7. It has been proving lagos can survive with or without the federal allocation from the FG.

8. Like Anywhere in the world public works leads to increase in employment and employment increases spending power which increases services provided which in the end contribute to growth in that economy.


Conclusion –

The republic of lagos or should I say lagos colony has come to stay irrespective of what happens in the Niger delta or the corruption in Abuja. Lagos will continue to wax stronger and will sooner rather than later will be the commercial capital of West Africa with a mega city stretching from Lagos to Accra. The building block of this dream has been laid with the plan of  building the lagos to badagry 10 lane road which in time will extend to Port- Novo , Coutonu, Lome and eventually end in Accra.

Lagos, Back in the days

Beach



Broad Street



Cathederal

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