Lagos Island family heads say federal benefits never reach them under Tinubu
- Some Lagos Island family heads tell columnist Dele Sobowale say dem feel say Federal Government neglect dem since 2023.
- Dem ask whether the ₦20,000 cash transfer for poor Nigerians don reach poor residents of the island.
- The group plan one non-partisan Association of Heads of Families to press federal, state and local governments.
Heads of families wey get roots for Lagos Island say dem never see any federal benefit since President Bola Tinubu enter office for 2023, and dem dey organise to press their case with government.
Veteran columnist Dele Sobowale write about the meeting for one piece wey Vanguard and Independent publish. He say the family heads ask make dem no call their names because dem dey fear reprisals.
According to Sobowale, the group no dey partisan and all its members pass 70. Dem tell am say dem vote for Tinubu for 2023, expecting better life for the island wey he once call home.
One of dem ask am wetin Federal Government don do for Lagos Island since Tinubu become President. Another one ask whether the ₦20,000 cash transfer wey dem dey pay poor Nigerians don reach poor people for the island.
Sobowale quote one member say: “Nkan to so fun wa ko leleyi” — meaning “this was not what he told us.”
The columnist say he no fit give answer wey him fit verify, so he ask for another meeting while he check wetin the island don receive from Federal Government since 2023 and how many residents don get cash transfers.
He write say poverty dey deep for the island, adding: “Eko is literally dying.”
Planned family heads association
The main reason for the meeting, Sobowale write, na to tell am about one planned Association of Heads of Families in Lagos Island.
He say those wey dey the meeting together control about 90 buildings for the island. His own family, the Akangbe Onire Family Descendants, claim about 23 buildings across the island.
The group want one voice wey media go listen to, so that federal, state and local governments go take their concerns serious.
Their grievances include disputed electricity bills from DISCO, the power distribution companies, for buildings wey no get meters; no public water supply; no federal presence for the island despite its economic contribution; and poor relief for the poorest residents.
Sobowale describe the island as mini-Nigeria, say virtually every ethnic group for the country dey represented there on working days.
He say he ask for time to think about joining, citing his age — he pass 82 — and him no want join groups wey him fear fit drag am into petty politics.
He argue say the island need one non-governmental organisation wey go work for everybody, not just few people.
What happens next
Sobowale say he go hold second meeting with the family heads after he check the facts. The association never formally launch, and no government body don respond to the group's concerns for the accounts wey dem publish so far.
