₦airaland Forum

U

Willy2025:
This is one of the Tinubu's achievements in Lagos. If we say that Tinubu and his boys massively developed Lagos, no be chochocho. Let PO points at one percent of these in Anambra. Who has he ever raised politically? That's why we only see hoipoilois like Mama Pee and Peter Akah always with him. This 2027 is too sure for Jagaban. Nobody is contesting against him.

With is Obi business with this post, did you see his name mentioned in article. He will continue to torment everyone of you till you choose to do the right thing, in your dreams you will see him, when you poo you will see him, when you eat you will taste him.

Parachoko:
Shey nah Development Obidients wan chop?

naptu2:
Incredibly wrong! Lagos State was not the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991. In fact Lagos State did not exist till 1967.

Do not confirm the words of Mrs. Remi Tinubu that Nigerian youths are lazy. With your phone in your hands, you can research through history, even if you never opened history books or did not learn this piece of Nigerian history in school.

Lagos became the capital of the protectorate of Nigeria in 1914 and in effect was a federal territory as the capital of the country, pre and post independence. Common sense should dictate that a country must have a federal capital. Since Nigeria became independent in 1960, was the federal capital Ijebu Igbo? Or have you heard of any other name as the federal capital in 1960 when the country became independent?

Lagos remained a federal territory until and after independence when Nigeria was restructured and twelve states were created and Lagos state was carved out in May 1967. Ikorodu, Agege and Ikeja which were then known as part western Nigeria were added to widen the space of the territory of the newly formed state. It did not stop the recognition of Lagos as the federal capital, rather it expanded the landmass.

Do you need me to tell you the twelve states that were created in 1967? That is basic history, taught to everyone in school. Were you not taught that basic history of Nigeria in school?

Maybe I need to help you by letting you know that Calabar was the headquarters of the Southern protectorate up till 1906, when the colony of Lagos was merged with the Southern protectorate to make Lagos the capital in 1914 and then the merging of the Southern protectorate with the Northern protectorate to form the nation called Nigeria under Lord Luggard.

While Lagos was serving as the capital, the parliament was situated at famous Tafawa Balewa square.

Lagos was peaceful with all Nigerians from everywhere moving there for commerce. Inspite of the war, there was peace in Lagos, even until 1999, when one man with opolo eyes and his group around the SW and the co-sojourners in the north introduced baba so pe politics, to divide the country. Buba Marwa ridded Lagos of agberos as of 1999 as the governor, until opolo eyes man restored them and used them to win elections.

Some of you young men on this forum just comment on Nigeria without basic knowledge of the country that you call your own. Is it not better for everyone to return to the 1880s when you could only talk of your village and there was nothing known as Nigeria?

So confident in being very wrong.

Lagos State did not exist in 1914 and could not have been the capital of Nigeria in 1914.

Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry, etc were not part of Lagos in 1914.

These places were part of the Western Region until 1967 when they were cut off from the Western Region and added to Lagos to create Lagos State.

I am sure that I am far older than you and bluster does not work with people like me. You cannot run away from the fact that you are very wrong.

Lagos State did not even exist before 1967 and so could not have been capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991. Lagos ended at Jibowu before 1967.


GET YOURSELF EDUCATED AND DEAL WITH FACTS NOT EMOTIONS

ElevationD:
Do not confirm the words of Mrs. Remi Tinubu that Nigerian youths are lazy. With your phone in your hands, you can research through history, even if you never opened history books or did not learn this piece of Nigerian history in school.

Lagos became the capital of the protectorate of Nigeria in 1914 and in effect was a federal territory as the capital of the country, pre and post independence. Common sense should dictate that a country must have a federal capital. Since Nigeria became independent in 1960, was the federal capital Ijebu Igbo? Or have you heard of any other name as the federal capital in 1960 when the country became independent?

Lagos remained a federal territory until and after independence when Nigeria was restructured and twelve states were created and Lagos state was carved out in May 1967. Ikorodu, Agege and Ikeja which were then known as part western Nigeria were added to widen the space of the territory of the newly formed state. It did not stop the recognition of Lagos as the federal capital, rather it expanded the landmass.

Do you need me to tell you the twelve states that were created in 1967? That is basic history, taught to everyone in school. Were you not taught that basic history of Nigeria in school?

Maybe I need to help you by letting you know that Calabar was the headquarters of the Southern protectorate up till 1906, when the colony of Lagos was merged with the Southern protectorate to make Lagos the capital in 1914 and then the merging of the Southern protectorate with the Northern protectorate to form the nation called Nigeria under Lord Luggard.

While Lagos was serving as the capital, the parliament was situated at famous Tafawa Balewa square.

Lagos was peaceful with all Nigerians from everywhere moving there for commerce. Inspite of the war, there was peace in Lagos, even until 1999, when one man with opolo eyes and his group around the SW and the co-sojourners in the north introduced baba so pe politics, to divide the country. Buba Marwa ridded Lagos of agberos as of 1999 as the governor, until opolo eyes man restored them and used them to win elections.

Some of you young men on this forum just comment on Nigeria without basic knowledge of the country that you call your own. Is it not better for everyone to return to the 1880s when you could only talk of your village and there was nothing known as Nigeria?

akpumping7720:
Emeka, nobody is clinging to Lagos, my defense is a response to your comment that Lagos was a federal capital territory. You are trying to downplay the effort of past administrators in Lagos state with that statement and it's very common to some of you.

You don't downplay the effort of those who work to get the state to where it is now simply because the state used to be the F.C.T. other SW states too aren't doing bad.

Kamoru, why did you evade a very simple question?

Looking at Lagos as the federal capital as of 1914, can you show the meaningful efforts that the past and present administrators put into place to make the state match the level of other cities known within those same periods? Looking at the revenue of Lagos since 1914, why is Lagos not as developed as it should be? Can you compare Lagos with even Kigali, which had lesser resources but became where your leaders visit for their retreats?

If you cannot do that, why do you accuse other states of not matching the development of Lagos, seeing that their revenues are not equal?

If other SW states are not doing badly, why have you assumed that other states across the nation are doing badly? Why must you as a Nigerian, see the rest of Nigeria from the standpoint of Lagos?

ElevationD I am going to undertake the task of properly educating you today. You will hear directly from the first governor of Lagos State by the time that I am through and you will be better informed and stop spreading lies.


These are my old posts.


It's only children that don't know anything that are shocked by the idea that Lagos State was not the capital of Nigeria.

I was a little child when my mum told me that Lagos ended at Jibowu. I had the official government maps when I was a kid. I have listened to senior government officials of the 1960s describe exactly how Lagos was structured. I can describe it to you in detail.

For example, one person is making a mistake and writing about Ikoyi. It's not about Ikoyi.

I wish I could take you back to the late 1970s and let you roam around. You would know where the federal capital was just by the difference in how the streets were constructed.

The capital was in the Marina/Broad Street/Onikan area. During the Colonial Era and First Republic the rest of the Island was administered by the Lagos City Council.

Yaba, Surulere and Apapa were known as the "Metropolitan areas" (they were outside the City of Lagos.
.
The Ikeja and Ilupeju Industrial Estates were built by Chief Obafemi Awolowo's government because those places were in the Western Region.

I have told you about how Governor Mobolaji Johnson had to lead a peace mission to the Western Region when Lagos State was created because people in the Western Region were angry that Ikeja, Epe, Ikorodu, Mushin and other parts of the Western Region were added to Lagos State.

Ikeja Airport was in the Western Region.

ElevationD

The Western Region

These are all going to be short from now on.

Dear diary, do you remember that I told you that Lagos was made up of the City of Lagos and its suburbs before 1967? The City of Lagos was on Lagos Island and the suburbs were Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Ebute Metta, Yaba, Iddo, Ijora, parts of Surulere and parts of Apapa. Everywhere else in present day Lagos was part of the Western Region before 1967.

In fact, the people of the Western Region were not happy when Lagos State was created in 1967. They had thought that Lagos would be added to the Western Region, but instead, parts of the Western Region were cut off and added to Lagos State. Places like Ikeja, Ikorodu, Epe, Isolo, Badagry, Ojo, Mushin, Shomolu, Ojota, etc. were taken from the Western Region and added to Lagos State. Some civil servants from the affected places refused to resume in the Lagos State Civil Service in protest. Governor Mobolaji Johnson of Lagos State had to go on a peace mission to the Western Region (see Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson's interview elsewhere on this thread) in order to pacify them.


The Western Region Government under the prime ministership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo adopted a strategy for the development of the region. It set up many industrial estates and then went into partnership with many foreign companies to establish factories in these industrial estates. Examples of the industrial estates include the Oluyole Industrial Estate in Ibadan, the Ikeja Industrial Estate, the Ilupeju Industrial Estate, the Isolo Industrial Estate, etc.

The construction of the 31 acres and provision of all necessary amenities in Ikeja Industrial Estate by the Western Region Government was the main reason for the region, Ikeja (Oregun and Ogba), to be the preferred operational headquarters of the partnerships and multinational companies.

The Western Region invested in most of these companies through the Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC). The corporation was known as the Western Nigeria Development Corporation(1959 -1973), Western States Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation (1973-1976) and is now known as the Oodu'a Investment Company (1976-present). It once had a very famous football club which was known as WNDC and later became the IICC Shooting Stars (IICC = Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation) and is now known as the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).


Among the companies that were created by these partnerships were some of the most famous names of the Nigerian industrial era of the 1970s, such as Vono, which was the most famous producer of bed frames (both metal and wooden) and mattresses when I was a kid (I think they were overtaken by Mouka Foam in the 1980s or 1990s).


Companies

There were about 30 ventures formed by the WNDC in partnerships with individuals and corporate entities especially foreign companies. They were managed principally by the expatriates. The assets and liabilities of the concerns were shared according to each partner’s equity. Among these companies were the Nigerian Plastics Company, Nigerian Water Resources Development Company, Nigersol Construction Company, Nidogas, Nigerian Pre- Stressed Concrete Company, Crittal Hope, Vono (West Africa), Tower Aluminum, Asbestos Cement Products, and West African Portland Cement Company. Other companies with Western Region Government interest through the WNDC were the Nigerian Textile Mills, Nigerian Mosiac, Glass Manufacturing Company, Nigerian Electronics, Premier Tobacco Company, Nigerian Petroleum Refinery Company, Galvanizing Industries, Guinness Nigerian Limited and Vegetable Oils – Nigeria.

As at 1965, the Corporation had invested £6m in these companies.

Other companies that were attracted to Nigeria by the Western Region Government included Coca-Cola Nigeria and the 7-Up Bottling Company.

There were also companies that were owned outright by the Western Region Government like Wema Bank and Wemabod.

Below is a table of some of the companies that the WNDC went into partnership with.


(I won't post the pictures due to Nairaland's picture restrictions)

ElevationD. Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson was the last administrator of the Federal Capital Territory Lagos and the first governor of Lagos State. Read what he says about the difference between the capital territory and the state.

We Started Lagos State With Only 10,000 Pounds — Mobolaji Johnson.

The first military governor of Lagos State, Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson (retd), in this interview granted a specialised publication in respect of the 50th anniversary of Lagos State, Matters of Heritage, a copy of which was obtained by SATURDAY TRIBUNE, relives the birth of Lagos State and the challenges of its early stages of development.

What was the feeling when you became the governor of Lagos State at such a young age of 31?

The appointment came suddenly upon me as a young man and I had to take it. I took it as a challenge and faced it squarely. The challenges were not difficult to face and overcome because of the upbringing I had under my father, Pa ‘Motola Johnson, who was a strong character and raised all of us his children to be equally strong in character. While I was governor, my father was always reminding me not to tarnish the name and image of the family. That kept me focused and steady throughout my tenure. No wonder after the investigations of the Murtala Muhammed government that came after the government of General Yakubu Gowon, in which I served as governor, I was one of the governors given a clean bill of health as free from corrupt practices. I must say that a major problem in our political life today is that we have many in positions of authority who never had good home training. I am eternally grateful to God for the good upbringing under my father, which shaped my life for good.

What were the challenges you met on ground as the pioneer governor of the state?

Lagos State came into existence as a child of circumstance. The country was on the verge of civil war and one of the masterstrokes General Gowon applied was the creation of states, which pulled the carpet off the feet of [Chukwuemeka Odumegwu] Ojukwu. I came in first as the administrator of the Federal Capital before states were created. The feeling of Nigerians was that Lagos was a no man’s land. I had to face the challenge of correcting that erroneous impression. There was the need to let people know that the territory called Lagos belonged to a people with their distinct historical background, culture and tradition. Again, quite a good number of people thought the creation of Lagos was a ruse, that it could not be; that it could not work. So, we had to make sure it worked. We had to work round the clock to ensure that Lagos became a reality and I am happy to say that 50 years down the road, Lagos State is a reality, a model state waxing stronger.

What major problems did you have to contend with?

Our brothers in the West did not like the creation of Lagos State. They believed it should be part of the West. It became a ding-dong affair. Don’t forget that Lagos at a point in history was part of the West before it later became the Federal Capital, which brought about the parlance ‘gedegbe l’Eko wa’. The West was bitter, claiming that they had all their industries in Ikeja and how can we come to take them (the industries) away? I had to go on a peace mission to the West with my officials to see the late General Adeyinka Adebayo, the governor of Western Region, in Ibadan.

Again, skeptics never gave us a chance. They were calling us names, wondering how we were running government without commissioners. But I knew it was more difficult than that. All the functions being done by the Federal Government were being taken over by the new state, which was still in its infancy. A lot needed to be done at that time – the legal backing to the new state and part of the functions to be taken away from the Federal Government by the emerging new government in Lagos State would take some time. There was also a noticeable friction between the elders and youths who were trying to write off the elders as those responsible for the woes of the country; that the fall of the First Republic was caused by them. They were agitating that it was now time for the youths to be at the helm of affairs. Before long, I became the subject of all sorts of editorials in national newspapers that I surrounded myself with some of those who spoilt the country. I had to call a conference of the elders at the old City Hall. I told them in Yoruba parlance that: ‘ogiri to ba la ni alamo nkosi’ (it is when you have cracks on your wall that lizards have the opportunity to get inside). I didn’t want to bring the elders and the youths together without first taking care of the rough edges. I had to convene a separate meeting with the youths. A grand final took place at the City Hall where I brought the elders and the youths under one roof and I said to the assembly that I could not conduct the meeting alone; that I wanted six representatives from each side to join me on the high table. A lot of fundamental issues were resolved at the meeting and in a way formed the background to the emergence of Lagos State. When things improved, particularly after my peace mission to the West, some of them had a change of mind and returned to Lagos State. Folarin Coker and Shamsudeen Thomas were two of the early highly-ranking civil servants that returned to join the service of Lagos State. I should also mention here that civil servants of Lagos State origin were reluctant to leave the West, because Lagos to them was not yet a reality. They were not sure of their future, so they remained in the West.

What was the first budget like?

I had a one-line vote which I was using as the administrator of the Federal Capital. It was a modest sum of 10,000 pounds. That was what I used in starting Lagos State. Okuyiga and Coker set up a board that was responsible for revenue generation. Pools betting generated money for the state and once we were sure we could pay the salary of our workers and civil servants by the first month, we began the march to transforming the state. Those who never gave us a chance were surprised that we could achieve that feat with our meager resources.


Before you became the administrator of the Federal Capital and later the first governor of Lagos State in May 1967, where were you?

I always tell people that if you are good, you are good, and if you are bad, you pay a price. I had a rapid promotion in the military. Before the first coup of January 15, 1966, I was already a Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster General of the Headquarters of the 2nd Brigade in Apapa, Lagos. I was in charge of the troops in the West, Mid-West.

The DAQG job involved everything from boots and bootlaces to armoured tanks and accommodation of career officers and men under my command. As Brigade Commander, I was, working as number two staff officer. My Brigade Commanders in the brigade were Aguiyi Ironsi and Maimalari. When the coup took place, the commander of the First Battalion, Major Largema, was killed at Ikoyi Hotel and the troops marched on Lagos, insisting on seeing their commander and, of course, we knew he was dead. I stopped the invading troops and received them, telling them, ‘look, it is not by fighting that we can do justice to the memory of the late Commander of the Battalion’. So, I asked them to go back and rest assured that everything would be done to immortalise the fallen officer. It didn’t come as a surprise when, after things had settled down a bit, I was posted to the 4th Battalion, Ibadan, as second-in-command to the late Joe Akahan. In my new posting, I was able to change the attitude of my officers and men and move their concentration from coup plotting to games, sports and training programmes. We came to Lagos for Army Sports Competition and we won the competition. Soon, I was posted to Benin without troops. Benin was never a military zone. So, I was again called upon to go and set up a military station in Benin under Ejoor and I became second-in-command to Governor Ejoor. I must state here that Benin provided the opportunity for me to have my first stint of political administration. I was in the cabinet that had people like Mariere, who was adviser to the governor. I learnt a lot from Benin. It was there in Benin that Ejoor returned to his duty post after a Supreme Military Council meeting in Lagos and instead of me saluting, he was saluting me sharply and then gave me a signal that I was wanted in Lagos and that when I get to Lagos, they would tell me the details. That was how I moved back to Lagos and was received by General Ironsi who told me that as from that time on, whenever he was receiving visitors or conducting interviews, he would want me to be there because, he wanted somebody to come and look after Lagos, otherwise, he wouldn’t move an inch: he couldn’t do a thing outside solving the problems of Lagos. He said he wanted somebody and that was how they came up with my name. They wanted somebody born and bred here in Lagos and that was how I became the head of the Federal Capital.

Earlier, you mentioned the four musketeers who were saddled with the responsibility of running the newly created state with you at the helm. If you had to look back, who were the personages that came on board and at what point in your administration?

The four men I called the musketeers were civil servants. Howson Wright was Secretary to the Military Government; F.C.O Coker was Finance Secretary; Agoro was the Attorney General while Adeyemi Bero was the Administrative Secretary. In the enlarged cabinet, which was constituted later on, I had the simple luck of having credible men around me and the right people for the right job. The men who came on board my administration included L.S. Adewale; Adeniran Ogunsanya; Reverend Akin Adesola; Babs Williams; Johnson Agiri; Ganiyu Dawodu and other men and women of integrity whose names I cannot readily recollect now.

As a governor operating from the seat of the Federal Government, how much autonomy did you enjoy?

I must give it to Gowon. He created states and ensured that they operated as autonomous states. Although some officials didn’t let go, I went ahead to form my own Civil Service Commission overnight, headed by Norman Williams as chairman, Oba Alaketu of Ketu and Mrs Femi Pearse were commissioners in the Civil Service Commission. I was given a free hand by Gowon to operate while I got my cabinet working. We took steps to ensure that the new state stabilised.

With the ever increasing population of Lagos State, what were the major problems you had to contend with?

I remember when the civil war came to an end, there was so much hardship; increased cases of armed robbery and Lagos become chaotic. That was when I made an edict to the effect that if you were caught as an armed robber, you will be sentenced to death. This stance became necessary because I believed that the law court would be too slow for me. I believe in punishment being immediate for it to have desired effect. If someone does something, punish him or her immediately and let the people know. That was why we made that edict. But then I found out that my edict was not strong enough to override the constitution of the country that says that anybody that’s going to be sentenced must be tried in a court of law. But was my tribunal a court of law? So, I put up a memo to General Gowon telling him to give backing to my edict by creating a decree that could override the constitution. I didn’t get a reply from him. One Monday morning, a lawyer was killed in the Yaba area. His death at the hands of armed robbers made headline news. The lawyer’s mother had come from up country. My blood went cold on hearing the news and I phoned General Gowon and that was the only time I think I was rude to my Head of State. I called him on the red-hot line telling him, ‘Have you seen the papers this morning, sir? Have you seen the front page of Daily times?’ I went on to tell him that since the time I wrote a letter to him that my edict be backed with a decree, I never heard from him. ‘I want to tell you, sir, that the people being killed in Lagos are human beings. Are you waiting until one of your commissioners or governors comes to Lagos and gets killed before you will deem fit to take action?’ And I banged the phone. Gowon got my message and acted fast. He sent Graham Douglas to come and confer with my Attorney General and that was how a decree came up.

It is on record that your administration also came up with an edict to check the skyrocketing house rent in Lagos, especially in the metropolis. Could you give us an insight into the edict on house rent?

I was quite close to the people and felt for them. I also knew then that the landlords were shylocks; they were exploiting the explosion in population by demanding high rents for accommodation. The landlords were charging very exorbitant rents on their properties. So, we sat down and formed a committee that looked into categories of houses and accommodation as well as the locations. Of course, for obvious reasons, you cannot compare a room in Ajegunle to, say, a room in Victoria Island or Ikoyi. So, we came up with an edict, stipulating categories of houses and what landlords will take as rent on their buildings. One musician, Ayinla Omowura, actually waxed a record and the lyric of the song goes like this: ‘aye e ma tapa si’joba, e fara mon omo Bolaji’ (it is fruitless kicking against the government, abide by the housing edict of Mobolaji Johnson). Omowura did it on his own as his social responsibility; we didn’t ask him to promote the rent edict. We set up a tribunal where an aggrieved tenant who felt aggrieved could take his or her landlord. The tribunal was to ensure that the common people were not exploited. The edict worked for some time, but I don’t know what happened when I left office as governor.

What were the projects you planned to execute during your tenure but for reasons of time and financial constraints, you could not?

I wasn’t happy with the transportation system in Lagos, and I particularly felt bad about the waterways that we could not fully exploit. I sent a delegation abroad to look for flat bottom boats that could take passengers across the waterways. I wasn’t happy with the transportation system and would have loved to see a better system in place. One of the ideas I had was to construct the 3rd Mainland Bridge. Don’t forget, the 3rd Mainland Bridge was a creation of the government of Lagos State and not the Federal Government. The Federal Government only took it over at a point in time when we didn’t have enough money and, therefore, included the project as part of the state’s contribution to second Five-Year Development Programme of the Federal Government in 1972. I went abroad and was surprised to discover that the headquarters of Julius Berger was located in the same area with the hospital where I went for medical treatment. I met Mr Whitman who later served as vice chairman on the board of Julius Berger. His first job in Nigeria was the construction of the Itoikin Bridge that links Lagos with Epe.

During my meeting with Mr Whitman and his team of engineers, I showed them what we were planning for the ring roads around Lagos. I believe people getting out of Lagos should have free ways that they can use. The concept I had for the inner ring road and outer ring road was to have pillars erected to the middle of Herbert Macaulay and Murtala Muhammed Way with the pillars supporting a network of highways on the top like the ones I saw in Tokyo, Japan. I believed we could achieve same in Lagos. The Julius Berger team looked into my concept and came up with a blueprint ready for my submission to the Federal Government. That was how Julius Berger and an army of officials came all the way to Lagos. Work began in earnest with the engineers in boats and canoes crisscrossing the body of water over which the 3rd Mainland Bridge and its ring roads would be built. At Marina, they proposed sand filling as the best option so as to be able to gain more useful land, in addition to solving the traffic problem on that axis. I was thinking we could use the idea of the 3rd Mainland Bridge to sand fill a sizeable portion of the water front of the University of Lagos and adjoining areas and create a big motor park where a park-and-ride system of transportation would be available to take passengers from the Oworonshoki area into Lagos, where you will equally take a taxi or a bus to wherever you are going on the Lagos Island and when you are through with what you came to do on the Island, you will be taken back by boats across the water to where your car is parked at Oworonshoki. That was one major project I would have loved to accomplish but couldn’t. To date, our waterways, I must say, are still largely underutilised.

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/119067/

naptu2:
So confident in being very wrong.

Lagos State did not exist in 1914 and could not have been the capital of Nigeria in 1914.

Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry, etc were not part of Lagos in 1914.

These places were part of the Western Region until 1967 when they were cut off from the Western Region and added to Lagos to create Lagos State.

I am sure that I am far older than you and bluster does not work with people like me. You cannot run away from the fact that you are very wrong.

Lagos State did not even exist before 1967 and so could not have been capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991. Lagos ended at Jibowu before 1967.


GET YOURSELF EDUCATED AND DEAL WITH FACTS NOT EMOTIONS

Please stop embarrassing yasef young man.

I am well educated. You need that education. I am very well versed in the history of Lagos, it culture, people and traditions. I am a complete Lagosian. You know nothing, other than to use your phone to play bet9ja.

Once again, even if you do not have the faintest idea of historical facts, never read history books or was never informed by older people around you, simply do not prove Mrs. Tinubu right. Use your phone to ask simple questions.

If you took that your time to read my previous response, you’d find that I said “Lagos”. I also mentioned “the colony of Lagos”. I further clarified that Lagos became a state in 1967, adding further that Ikorodu, Agege and Ikeja were added to make up the landmass. I stayed that twelve states were created that year. Which of my words in history are wrong? Where did you find Epe and Badagry in my comment? Please ask some educated elderly people in your place, particularly those present before 1967.

Oga, get simple commonsense. Is there any country with no federal capital? Can you tell us the capital of Nigeria in 1960 at independence? Can you tell us the capital of Nigeria before 1967?

Na so una go dey shook mouth out for wetin una no know. When elders with deep knowledge about Lagos dey talk, small children like una wey dem born 2004 go dey act “I too know”.

Lagos leads, others follow. This is what we mean by Tinubu bequeathing Lagos with visionary people like himself.

naptu2:
Incredibly wrong! Lagos State was not the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991. In fact Lagos State did not exist till 1967.

“ Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson was the last administrator of the Federal Capital Territory Lagos and the first governor of Lagos State. Read what he says about the difference between the capital territory and the state”.

You copied and pasted this.

Very clear simple words. If na problem, you take your own hands bring evidence wey dem take hold you.

“…administrator of the Federal Capital Territory”. When you refer to Abuja as the federal capital territory, what does that tell you?

When you refer to Lagos as the federal capital territory, what should it tell you?

Make una dey go school learn first, understand clearly before forming “I too sabi”.

The same Lagos that was the federal capital, retained it’s status as the federal capital when states were carved out in 1967 by the military.

Once again, can you tell us where the federal capital was located pre, during and post independence? A very simple question.

naptu2:
ElevationD

The Western Region

These are all going to be short from now on.

Dear diary, do you remember that I told you that Lagos was made up of the City of Lagos and its suburbs before 1967? The City of Lagos was on Lagos Island and the suburbs were Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Ebute Metta, Yaba, Iddo, Ijora, parts of Surulere and parts of Apapa. Everywhere else in present day Lagos was part of the Western Region before 1967.

In fact, the people of the Western Region were not happy when Lagos State was created in 1967. They had thought that Lagos would be added to the Western Region, but instead, parts of the Western Region were cut off and added to Lagos State. Places like Ikeja, Ikorodu, Epe, Isolo, Badagry, Ojo, Mushin, Shomolu, Ojota, etc. were taken from the Western Region and added to Lagos State. Some civil servants from the affected places refused to resume in the Lagos State Civil Service in protest. Governor Mobolaji Johnson of Lagos State had to go on a peace mission to the Western Region (see Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson's interview elsewhere on this thread) in order to pacify them.


The Western Region Government under the prime ministership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo adopted a strategy for the development of the region. It set up many industrial estates and then went into partnership with many foreign companies to establish factories in these industrial estates. Examples of the industrial estates include the Oluyole Industrial Estate in Ibadan, the Ikeja Industrial Estate, the Ilupeju Industrial Estate, the Isolo Industrial Estate, etc.

The construction of the 31 acres and provision of all necessary amenities in Ikeja Industrial Estate by the Western Region Government was the main reason for the region, Ikeja (Oregun and Ogba), to be the preferred operational headquarters of the partnerships and multinational companies.

The Western Region invested in most of these companies through the Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC). The corporation was known as the Western Nigeria Development Corporation(1959 -1973), Western States Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation (1973-1976) and is now known as the Oodu'a Investment Company (1976-present). It once had a very famous football club which was known as WNDC and later became the IICC Shooting Stars (IICC = Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation) and is now known as the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).


Among the companies that were created by these partnerships were some of the most famous names of the Nigerian industrial era of the 1970s, such as Vono, which was the most famous producer of bed frames (both metal and wooden) and mattresses when I was a kid (I think they were overtaken by Mouka Foam in the 1980s or 1990s).


Companies

There were about 30 ventures formed by the WNDC in partnerships with individuals and corporate entities especially foreign companies. They were managed principally by the expatriates. The assets and liabilities of the concerns were shared according to each partner’s equity. Among these companies were the Nigerian Plastics Company, Nigerian Water Resources Development Company, Nigersol Construction Company, Nidogas, Nigerian Pre- Stressed Concrete Company, Crittal Hope, Vono (West Africa), Tower Aluminum, Asbestos Cement Products, and West African Portland Cement Company. Other companies with Western Region Government interest through the WNDC were the Nigerian Textile Mills, Nigerian Mosiac, Glass Manufacturing Company, Nigerian Electronics, Premier Tobacco Company, Nigerian Petroleum Refinery Company, Galvanizing Industries, Guinness Nigerian Limited and Vegetable Oils – Nigeria.

As at 1965, the Corporation had invested £6m in these companies.

Other companies that were attracted to Nigeria by the Western Region Government included Coca-Cola Nigeria and the 7-Up Bottling Company.

There were also companies that were owned outright by the Western Region Government like Wema Bank and Wemabod.

Below is a table of some of the companies that the WNDC went into partnership with.


(I won't post the pictures due to Nairaland's picture restrictions)

Can you imagine this long story, absolutely diverting from the subject matter? Mr. Na me get Lagos, where was the federal capital of Nigeria before Independence Day, during Independence Day and up till 1967?

Simple question and you are jumping upandan.

MY PEOPLE, COME AND SEE O! ELEVATION D IS TRYING TO RUN AWAY FROM HIS ORIGINAL POSITION! HE THINKS THAT WE CAN'T SEE!

HE WROTE THAT LAGOS STATE WAS THE CAPITAL OF NIGERIA FROM 1914 TO 1967. SOMEONE CORRECTED HIM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LAGOS STATE IN 1914 AND THE AREA OF THE COLONY OF LAGOS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE AREA OF LAGOS STATE.

THE FUNNY GUY EVEN WENT FURTHER TO SAY THAT LAGOS DOES NOT HAVE A SECTION (THAT IS, IT WAS THE WHOLE OF LAGOS STATE THAT WAS CAPITAL FROM 1914 TO 1967).

NOW THE JOKER IS TRYING TO FLEE FROM HIS POSITION BECAUSE I HAVE SCHOOLED HIM!

CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?

meanwhile the screenshots are below.

People of God come and witness comedy by ElevationD

Come and witness epic entertainment.

🤣

Lagos does not have a section.

Lagos State was capital of Nigeria from 1914 to 1991.

See what the funny guy is writing!

And he thinks we can't see and that we've forgotten and now he is trying to run very fast away from his original position.

Kai!

ElevationD said that Lagos State was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991.

Someone asked him wether it was the whole of Lagos State.

He replied that Lagos State was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991 and that Lagos State does not have a section.

I told him that Lagos State could not be the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991 because the Federal Capital Territory Lagos was different from Lagos State. Lagos State did not exist until 1967 and there were many parts of the Western Region that were added to the capital to create Lagos State.

He then tried to run away from his position while still saying that I am wrong. Can you imagine that?

Ikeja Industrial Estate, Ilupeju Industrial Estate were created by the Western Region Government when these places were part of the Western Region.

Mushin, Isolo, Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lekki, etc were part of the Western Region before 1967.

naptu2:
People of God come and witness comedy by ElevationD

Come and witness epic entertainment.

🤣

Lagos does not have a section.

Lagos State was capital of Nigeria from 1914 to 1991.

See what the funny guy is writing!

And he thinks we can't see and that we've forgotten and now he is trying to run very fast away from his original position.

Kai!

What a sad shame. Has supporting APC so confused you that you cannot read and understand? What a life? Is it so bad that APC has befuddled the heads of their supporters so that the ability to reason is taken away?

Have I not repeatedly mentioned to you and your fellow APC blind supporters that Lagos was the capital of the federation from 1914 up till 1991. But clearly that Lagos became a state in 1967, yet retaining its status as the federal capital until 1991?

Stop disgracing yourself, young man. Calling people of Lagos to witness embarrass and ridicule yourself with you lack of basic history sounds very right.

You know absolutely nothing, not to talk of what you have forgotten.

Once again, tell us the capital of Nigeria as at Independence Day and before 1967. Do that, otherwise know that you are disgracing APC here.

naptu2:
ElevationD said that Lagos State was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991.

Someone asked him wether it was the whole of Lagos State.

He replied that Lagos State was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991 and that Lagos State does not have a section.

I told him that Lagos State could not be the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991 because the Federal Capital Territory Lagos was different from Lagos State. Lagos State did not exist until 1967 and there were many parts of the Western Region that were added to the capital to create Lagos State.

He then tried to run away from his position while still saying that I am wrong. Can you imagine that?

Ikeja Industrial Estate, Ilupeju Industrial Estate were created by the Western Region Government when these places were part of the Western Region.

Mushin, Isolo, Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lekki, etc were part of the Western Region before 1967.

No wonder

naptu2:
ElevationD said that Lagos State was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991.

Someone asked him wether it was the whole of Lagos State.

He replied that Lagos State was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991 and that Lagos State does not have a section.

I told him that Lagos State could not be the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991 because the Federal Capital Territory Lagos was different from Lagos State. Lagos State did not exist until 1967 and there were many parts of the Western Region that were added to the capital to create Lagos State.

He then tried to run away from his position while still saying that I am wrong. Can you imagine that?

Ikeja Industrial Estate, Ilupeju Industrial Estate were created by the Western Region Government when these places were part of the Western Region.

Mushin, Isolo, Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lekki, etc were part of the Western Region before 1967.

“ While similar cities like Johannesburg, Cairo, Rabat, Kigali and Algiers show off infrastructures and developments with pride, youths like you who do not expect to exceed your present status, sit down there comparing Lagos that became the federal capital in 1914, with Anambra state that was created in 1991”.

Those are my original words that you blindly and ignorantly argue.

Read, learn and get informed, so that you do not keep publicly disgracing yourself.

Did you find “Lagos state” there or “Lagos”?

Ladies and gentlemen, ElevationD is still trying to get my attention. Isn't that funny?

As you all know, I give people a couple of chances to make sensible arguments. When I see that that is beyond them and that they are just trying to entertain me, then I stop reading their posts and sometimes block them.

The whole world can see that ElevationD said that Lagos State was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991. The original post and screenshots are there for all to see.

The whole world can also see that this is wrong because Lagos State was not created till 1967.

The whole world can see that ElevationD wrote that it was the whole Lagos State, not a section.

The whole world can also see that this is wrong since Ikeja, Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry and other places were part of the Western Region before 1967.

Nothing he says in his comical attempts to flee from his original position can change these facts.

So why should I waste my time and read his posts?

But he is free to waste his time in a fruitless attempt to entertain me.

naptu2:
ElevationD said that Lagos State was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991.

Someone asked him wether it was the whole of Lagos State.

He replied that Lagos State was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991 and that Lagos State does not have a section.

I told him that Lagos State could not be the capital of Nigeria from 1914 till 1991 because the Federal Capital Territory Lagos was different from Lagos State. Lagos State did not exist until 1967 and there were many parts of the Western Region that were added to the capital to create Lagos State.

He then tried to run away from his position while still saying that I am wrong. Can you imagine that?

Ikeja Industrial Estate, Ilupeju Industrial Estate were created by the Western Region Government when these places were part of the Western Region.

Mushin, Isolo, Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lekki, etc were part of the Western Region before 1967.

No

But ElevationD is free to waste his time in a fruitless attempt to entertain me.

ElevationD is still wasting his time.

ElevationD:
Kamoru, why did you evade a very simple question?

Looking at Lagos as the federal capital as of 1914, can you show the meaningful efforts that the past and present administrators put into place to make the state match the level of other cities known within those same periods? Looking at the revenue of Lagos since 1914, why is Lagos not as developed as it should be? Can you compare Lagos with even Kigali, which had lesser resources but became where your leaders visit for their retreats?

If you cannot do that, why do you accuse other states of not matching the development of Lagos, seeing that their revenues are not equal?

If other SW states are not doing badly, why have you assumed that other states across the nation are doing badly? Why must you as a Nigerian, see the rest of Nigeria from the standpoint of Lagos?

You are comparing Kigali with a population of 1 million to Lagos with a population of More than 21 million. In terms of urban cleanliness and ease of doing business; Kigali is ahead of Lagos in that aspect. Controlling 21 million inhabitants is not the same as controlling 1 million inhabitants. In terms of economy; Lagos is far far ahead of Kigali. It's like comparing death with sleep.

Lagos being the former FCT is still your bone of contention even after telling you that the whole of Lagos State was not the FCT.

I gave you an example of the FCT, Abuja; where Wike is currently delivering infrastructures to turn the city around, you turned a blind eye to that. To cut the long story short; kindly shut me up by listing infrastructures that were built in 1914 in Lagos State and are still standing till today thereby yielding revenue for the state directly. Currently, we have BRT services, Rail services, waterway services, remodelled schools, remodelled hospitals etc. done by past and present administrators.

As to other states, do you know that the allocations received by Delta State, Bayelsa state is enough to turn these two states around as a mega state? What is their population? Yet corruption didn't allow those states to grow beyond their current states. Only Rivers State is doing very well among the oil producing states. Even Kano state that don't have a drop of oil can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of these oil producing states in terms of economic development.

In a nutshell Emeka, let's advocate for good governance in our respective states. Lagos State can be decongested and will be decongested in future. Work is in the pipeline. It's a matter of time.

ElevationD:
Kamoru, why did you evade a very simple question?

Looking at Lagos as the federal capital as of 1914, can you show the meaningful efforts that the past and present administrators put into place to make the state match the level of other cities known within those same periods? Looking at the revenue of Lagos since 1914, why is Lagos not as developed as it should be? Can you compare Lagos with even Kigali, which had lesser resources but became where your leaders visit for their retreats?

If you cannot do that, why do you accuse other states of not matching the development of Lagos, seeing that their revenues are not equal?

If other SW states are not doing badly, why have you assumed that other states across the nation are doing badly? Why must you as a Nigerian, see the rest of Nigeria from the standpoint of Lagos?

What did colonial administrators do in Lagos that were not done in other parts of the country? You are just disturbing your soul by asking meaningless questions, Emeka. 😂😂😂😂😂

akpumping7720:
What did colonial administrators do in Lagos that were not done in other parts of the country? You are just disturbing your soul by asking meaningless questions, Emeka. 😂😂😂😂😂

Ahh, I thought you were focusing on your Lagos, while thinking that other parts of the nations remained like jungles.

Kamoru, you are are totally confused. Have you not noticed?

akpumping7720:
You are comparing Kigali with a population of 1 million to Lagos with a population of More than 21 million. In terms of urban cleanliness and ease of doing business; Kigali is ahead of Lagos in that aspect. Controlling 21 million inhabitants is not the same as controlling 1 million inhabitants. In terms of economy; Lagos is far far ahead of Kigali. It's like comparing death with sleep.

Lagos being the former FCT is still your bone of contention even after telling you that the whole of Lagos State was not the FCT.

I gave you an example of the FCT, Abuja; where Wike is currently delivering infrastructures to turn the city around, you turned a blind eye to that. To cut the long story short; kindly shut me up by listing infrastructures that were built in 1914 in Lagos State and are still standing till today thereby yielding revenue for the state directly. Currently, we have BRT services, Rail services, waterway services, remodelled schools, remodelled hospitals etc. done by past and present administrators.

As to other states, do you know that the allocations received by Delta State, Bayelsa state is enough to turn these two states around as a mega state? What is their population? Yet corruption didn't allow those states to grow beyond their current states. Only Rivers State is doing very well among the oil producing states. Even Kano state that don't have a drop of oil can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of these oil producing states in terms of economic development.

In a nutshell Emeka, let's advocate for good governance in our respective states. Lagos State can be decongested and will be decongested in future. Work is in the pipeline. It's a matter of time.

Kamoru, I want you to read the history of Rwanda, the tribes, people and take a look at the city of Kigali as you read.

It did not arrive at its present status in one day. The population of Lagos state did not arrive in one year. It was one million at a particular period.

Rwanda experienced a very serious war in 1994 and came out of it, with good leadership to become what it is today. Nigeria had a war in 1967 and look at what it has become today.

The population of Kigali is not at what you claimed. It has gone beyond that and it maintains its level of growth. The economy of Lagos is ahead of Kigali, yet Kigali is better organized. With good leadership, there is a plan for increase in population in the future.

Now, note that the road networks in Ikoyi, Ebute Metta, Surulere, Shitta, Yaba, Ijora Olopa, Apapa, etc, were colonial designs. They were built by the colonialists. Get into Ijora Olopa facing the lagoon and see how it was designed, until your leaders turned the whole place upside down, with poor management. It was a very beautiful and peaceful place in those days. Infact, names and addresses could be found in the front of the houses then. They brought the telephone and the directory. Every home that had the telephone, had the directory. You could search any private/public person or organization in the directory. I take my two eyes see am, use am.

I wonder why it is so difficult for you and that ignorant fellow to understand my previous comments about the history of Lagos, well known to me, as one born and educated in Lagos Island. I have said repeatedly mentioned that Lagos was the capital of the federation in 1914, when the southern and northern protectorates were joined together in what was called the amalgamation and birth of Nigeria. It was simply “Lagos” and not “Lagos state”. You can ask any historian, BAT, legislator, governor or councillor with knowledge of Lagos. I also mentioned that when Lagos became a state in 1967, Ikorodu, Agege and Ikeja were added to make it up. Ikeja officially became the capital of Lagos state. Lagos remained as Lagos, the name up till 1967 when under General Gowon, it became Lagos state. Read history. As of now that ignorant Naptu fellow has not told us the capital of Nigeria at independence. Maybe you do not know it too.

Rail and water services were always there. They were built by the colonialists. You may ask the elderly around you how Lagos was in the 60s and 70s. I used ferry services to go from Flour mills Apapa to CMS in those days, with peace and happiness. That ferry point in CMS was not the original place. It was located opposite Joseph street, before the officers mess. Railway was very functional in those days and they were all efficient. Baba Jakande was going to improve on them in Lagos, before your favorite Buhari with his group brought their coup. Lagos, just like other states have moved forward in terms of the infrastructures that we used to know, but the pace is disgracefully poor. The reason for that is clear.

Thankfully you looked away from Lagos to other states. I am of the opinion that you have not been to any of those states. However, I agree with you that the allocations do not match the development in all the states, including Lagos. Cut off corruption and the endless/reckless embezzlement of public funds and you will see a better nation. Politicians have used tribalism to trouble you lot and divert the attention of the ignorant citizens from the looting that they have used to trouble the nation.

Can you show evidence that Rivers state is doing well? Una go just dey here dey talk. With all the resources, should Rivers, Kwara, Benue and Kano states, having being created the same day with Lagos state in 1967, still find themselves in the level that they are? With all the allocations in Delta state, you cannot beat your chest and say that Delta is better developed than Anambra state, even as they were both created the same day. Go and visit both states and see for yasef.

ElevationD:
Ahh, I thought you were focusing on your Lagos, while thinking that other parts of the nations remained like jungles.

Kamoru, you are are totally confused. Have you not noticed?

Emeka, the confusion is on you oooooh with your rhetorics on Lagos used to be the FCT

ElevationD:
Kamoru, I want you to read the history of Rwanda, the tribes, people and take a look at the city of Kigali as you read.

It did not arrive at its present status in one day. The population of Lagos state did not arrive in one year. It was one million at a particular period.

Rwanda experienced a very serious war in 1994 and came out of it, with good leadership to become what it is today. Nigeria had a war in 1967 and look at what it has become today.

The population of Kigali is not at what you claimed. It has gone beyond that and it maintains its level of growth. The economy of Lagos is ahead of Kigali, yet Kigali is better organized. With good leadership, there is a plan for increase in population in the future.

Now, note that the road networks in Ikoyi, Ebute Metta, Surulere, Shitta, Yaba, Ijora Olopa, Apapa, etc, were colonial designs. They were built by the colonialists. Get into Ijora Olopa facing the lagoon and see how it was designed, until your leaders turned the whole place upside down, with poor management. It was a very beautiful and peaceful place in those days. Infact, names and addresses could be found in the front of the houses then. They brought the telephone and the directory. Every home that had the telephone, had the directory. You could search any private/public person or organization in the directory. I take my two eyes see am, use am.

I wonder why it is so difficult for you and that ignorant fellow to understand my previous comments about the history of Lagos, well known to me, as one born and educated in Lagos Island. I have said repeatedly mentioned that Lagos was the capital of the federation in 1914, when the southern and northern protectorates were joined together in what was called the amalgamation and birth of Nigeria. It was simply “Lagos” and not “Lagos state”. You can ask any historian, BAT, legislator, governor or councillor with knowledge of Lagos. I also mentioned that when Lagos became a state in 1967, Ikorodu, Agege and Ikeja were added to make it up. Ikeja officially became the capital of Lagos state. Lagos remained as Lagos, the name up till 1967 when under General Gowon, it became Lagos state. Read history. As of now that ignorant Naptu fellow has not told us the capital of Nigeria at independence. Maybe you do not know it too.

Rail and water services were always there. They were built by the colonialists. You may ask the elderly around you how Lagos was in the 60s and 70s. I used ferry services to go from Flour mills Apapa to CMS in those days, with peace and happiness. That ferry point in CMS was not the original place. It was located opposite Joseph street, before the officers mess. Railway was very functional in those days and they were all efficient. Baba Jakande was going to improve on them in Lagos, before your favorite Buhari with his group brought their coup. Lagos, just like other states have moved forward in terms of the infrastructures that we used to know, but the pace is disgracefully poor. The reason for that is clear.

Thankfully you looked away from Lagos to other states. I am of the opinion that you have not been to any of those states. However, I agree with you that the allocations do not match the development in all the states, including Lagos. Cut off corruption and the endless/reckless embezzlement of public funds and you will see a better nation. Politicians have used tribalism to trouble you lot and divert the attention of the ignorant citizens from the looting that they have used to trouble the nation.

Can you show evidence that Rivers state is doing well? Una go just dey here dey talk. With all the resources, should Rivers, Kwara, Benue and Kano states, having being created the same day with Lagos state in 1967, still find themselves in the level that they are? With all the allocations in Delta state, you cannot beat your chest and say that Delta is better developed than Anambra state, even as they were both created the same day. Go and visit both states and see for yasef.

God bless Soludo for the solid development that Anambra state is witnessing!!!
Delta state indigenes supposed they stone James Ibori whenever they see him on the street.

akpumping7720:
Emeka, the confusion is on you oooooh with your rhetorics on Lagos used to be the FCT

J