By Iwok Iniobong

Copyright businessday

Many Lagosians have called on the state government to improve infrastructure across the state, especially in remote areas.

Physically challenged Lagosians also demanded social inclusion in government policies and access to education.

They complained that years after the Special Peoples Law was signed to create an inclusive society for people living with disabilities, the Lagos State government has not fully implemented its policy on access to public facilities.

The residents stated this on Tuesday at a consultative forum organised by the Lagos State government through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget to get residents’ input into the state’s 2026 annual budget.

The forum is held annually across the five divisions of Lagos, which include Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos and Epe, and will run from September 9 to 16, 2025, with participation from traditional rulers, professional bodies, civil society organisations, trade groups, persons with disabilities, and youths.

At the Ikeja Division forum, which was held at the Radio Lagos hall in Agidingbi on Tuesday, many People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) appealed to Governor Babatunde Sanwo-Olu to consider them when formulating policies.

“PLWDs face mobility challenges, especially when it comes to accessing pedestrian bridges, and we want the Lagos State government to bring back the Ilera-Eko health scheme for people of the state”, Ojo Bamidele, a physically challenged resident, said. Similarly, traders demanded empowerment and soft loans to enable them to expand their businesses; they noted that the terms to seek loans in micro finance bank was out of their reach.

There were also complaints by residents about the alarming rate of youth who take hard drugs openly across the state, while seeking government efforts to check the trend. Speaking at the event, Ope George, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, said the initiative was designed to give citizens a voice in the budgeting process while also providing updates on the performance of the 2025 budget.

“This is the first of our visits to the divisions of the state. We are here to hear from our people what they want to see in the 2026 budget. It also allows us to report back on what they requested in 2025 and to give a scorecard of what has been achieved,” he said.

George disclosed that Lagos had so far achieved over 80 per cent budget performance in 2025, both in revenue generation and expenditure, adding that the state was optimistic about meeting its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) target for the year. “We are building on the gains of 2025. Our IGR is growing, and as of August–September, we have hit about 80 per cent of our target. Last year, we met our IGR target, and we are confident that 2025 will follow the same path,” he noted.

The Commissioner added that while Lagos continues to invest heavily in infrastructure, the state is also prioritising social protection, healthcare, education, and agriculture. He further revealed that the agribusiness initiative, Lagos Produce, would be expanded to strengthen food security. Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, raised concerns over the rising rate of drug abuse among young people in Lagos.

Describing the menace as a “pandemic,” Ogunlende said the ministry had established a special department under the Lagos State Kicks Against Drug Abuse (LASCADA) programme to tackle the crisis.

“At the moment, our rehabilitation centres are full. Drug abuse is something we see on our streets and in our homes. At least 35 per cent of our youths are dependent on substances,” he stated. He noted that the state was working with the NDLEA, private institutions, and civil society groups to provide advocacy, rehabilitation, and rescue services, while urging communities to take ownership of the fight against drug abuse.