The House of Representatives has passed through second reading a bill seeking to grant special economic status to Lagos State.

The bill if passed into law would ensure that the state receives the necessary support from the Federal Government to develop critical infrastructure and cater to its rising population.

A similar bill suffered defeat in the Senate, but was repackaged in the House of Representatives to include consideration for special status to Kano and Anambra as well as states with cities within the threshold of ten million inhabitants, which meet the criteria for megacity by the United Nations.

The bill also seeks to ensure that any state with Special Consideration Status will be entitled to 20 per cent of all proceeds accruing to the Federal Government from the state, to mitigate the pressures of urbanisation, overcrowding and decaying infrastructure.

Leading the debate on the bill, the Sponsor of the bill, Representative Babajimi Benson, told other lawmakers that the 20 per cent would assist in the revival of the economic potentials of such states to contribute significantly to economic prosperity in Nigeria. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Bill Sponsor Babajimi Benson.

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