Residents and stakeholders in Epe and Ikorodu have called for stronger grassroots interventions in the Lagos State 2027 budget, with particular emphasis on support for children living with disabilities, youth vocational development and programmes targeted at vulnerable groups.
The calls were made as the Lagos State Government concluded its five-day 2027 Budget Consultative Forum with engagements in Epe and Ikorodu, completing consultations across the five divisions of the state.
At the Epe session, held at the Jubilee Chalet, traditional rulers presented their proposals to representatives of the state government, outlining development priorities they wanted considered in the preparation of the 2027 budget.
Beyond broad infrastructure and development demands, residents used the consultation to draw attention to specific challenges affecting families, young people and children, particularly those requiring additional social and economic support.
A mother of a child with a spinal cord condition, Mrs. Bolanle Mustapha, appealed for greater government assistance for children living with disabilities, particularly in education and vocational training. She said some children with disabilities face difficulties accessing schools and obtaining the learning materials required for their education.
Mustapha, who identified herself as a member of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria, said her child had completed secondary education and was undergoing vocational training but needed equipment to continue learning the trade. She appealed for government support, noting that the cost of caring for children with disabilities could place a significant financial burden on families.
Similarly, the Public Relations Officer of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Victor Kolade Adobajale, called for broader youth-focused interventions covering employed and unemployed young people, graduates and those without tertiary education.
Adobajale particularly advocated expanded vocational training opportunities for young people who are not in formal education. He also proposed integrating vocational skills into the secondary school curriculum to enable students to acquire practical skills that could support their livelihoods after leaving school.
The Social Policy Manager, UNICEF Nigeria, Lagos Office, Mohammed Okorie, stressed the importance of citizen participation in budget preparation, saying direct engagement with communities enables government to better understand residents’ priorities.
Okorie also emphasised the need to track how requests from previous budget consultations had been addressed, describing the process as an opportunity for accountability between government and citizens.
He called for greater attention to children in the budget process, particularly in areas such as child health, nutrition, education, immunisation, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as the prevention of malnutrition.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, described the consultations as a platform for feedback, accountability and evidence-based engagement. She explained that requests made by stakeholders would be documented, reviewed and prioritised before being considered for inclusion as government interventions.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ope George, had earlier said the divisional consultations were part of the process for preparing the 2027 budget. According to him, the government was using the engagements to provide updates on previous requests while receiving new priorities from communities.
The consultations also featured updates on ongoing and planned infrastructure projects in Epe, Ibeju-Lekki and Ikorodu.
In Epe, projects highlighted included road interventions and infrastructure linked to the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, as well as developments around the approved new Lekki Airport. Other projects mentioned included Mogaji Street in Erepoto, Hon. Sanni Road in Iraye, Kayode Adesanya Street and the ongoing Omu Creek Link Road and Bridge, Phase One, in Ibeju-Lekki.
In Ikorodu, officials reported progress on the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Road, including grading and compaction of the crushed stone base and sand bed, alongside drainage desilting and water removal from the carriageway. Renovation of a failed section of Oba Sekunmade Road was also listed among ongoing interventions.
The five-day consultation was organised to review the half-year performance of the 2026 budget, update stakeholders on projects and programmes, outline government priorities for the remainder of 2026 and receive fresh contributions towards the preparation of the 2027 Lagos State budget.
