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LAGOS STATE LAW AND THE COMMITTEE ON BOUNDARY MATTERS: A LEGAL ANALYSIS* 

 

Abstract 

Boundaries constitutes one of the main attributes of a State as a subject of   international Law or as a 

constituent part of an Independent State. Without a determined and a particularly specified and delineated 

boundary a States cannot effectively claim a territory or determine the location of itself amongst other States. 

With development extending to territorial areas that were not earlier taken as useful or important, issues of 

territories determined by boundaries continue to rear their heads especially in a cosmopolitan city as Lagos. 

This paper has set out to investigate and do an analysis of the law establishing the Lagos State boundary 

Committee and the attendant issues touching and concerning boundary matters and record its conclusions.  

 

Keywords: Boundary, Territory, Disputes, Local Council Development Areas. 

 

1. Introduction 

Lagos state is the smallest state amongst the 36 states in land mass in Nigeria but represents the most vibrant in 

almost all areas of human endeavour. Lagos State and the activities of people and government of Lagos State, as 

it is presently constituted, is the heartbeat of the Nigerian nation-leading in capital market operations, banking, 

education, tourism, aviation, economy and other indices of development which may not be possible in 

numbering serration. Lagos State covers just 0.4 percent of Nigeria landmass, a mere 3,577 square kilometres, 

out of which about one-quarter is liquid surface: lagoons, creeks and coastal river estuaries...1 It contains within 

its tiny territory and boundaries about 50 percent of industrial and commercial activities of the country-Nigeria2. 

More than 90 percent of baking and financial institutions have their headquarters in Lagos and the dominance of 

the financial transactions is illustrated by Central Bank Statistics3. With the 1991 provisional census figures of 

5.68 million, the inhabitants of Lagos State are more in population than any other state in Nigeria4. But the 

recent population census estimated the population of Lagos State at about 14 million coming second after Kano 

State. Commentators have severally disagreed with the last census figures anchoring their claims on the fact that 

about 70 percent of the consumption of electricity and petroleum products occur in Lagos State alone, leaving 

about 30 percent for the remaining states of the federation. 

 

2. Location 

Lagos State is sandwiched by latitude 6° 22 and 6° 42N and it straddles longitudes 2° 42 to 4° 20 It is bounded 

in the North by Ogun State and in the East by Ondo State. It shares international boundary of about 45 

kilometres with the Republic of Benin while the vast, deep blue Atlantic Ocean constitutes the approximately 

180 kilometres long southern limit5. Although the total land area is just about 3,577 square kilometres, yet 

creeks, lagoons and estuaries constitute nearly 800 (22%) square kilometres. However, reclamation is reducing 

the size of water surface in a significant way. For example, Apapa Area, Lagos-Epe Strip, Maroko and the 

controversial Osborne parcel of land that is the object of disagreement between the federal and the Lagos State 

government over whose jurisdiction the land belongs6. Nevertheless, it is not only man that is reclaiming the 

land surface but the sea is also trying to reclaim more space for itself in the process of coastal erosion as being 

witnessed in the gradual etching away of part of the Bar Beach7. 

 

3. Creation of Lagos State 

At independence in 1960, Nigeria had four regions (Northern, Western, Mid-Western and Eastern) and the 

Lagos colony - a federal territory. Before the Nigerian civil war in 1967, Nigeria was broken up by the federal 

military government under the leadership of General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) into twelve states. Lagos State was 

thus created as one of the first twelve states being an amalgamation of the then Lagos colony, and some parts of 

the Western Region. It was then basically composed of five main divisions, namely: Lagos colony, Badagry, 

Epe, Ikeja and Ikorodu. The city of Ikeja became the capital of Lagos State till the present time. During the 

 
 By R. O. OLAOLUWA, LLM, PhD, Associate Professor,  Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, Faculty 

of Law, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria; Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria;  Former Secretary-

General, Nigerian Society of International Law.  E-mail:  rufus.olaoluwa@lasu.edu.ng 
1Arowolo, O.O (1990) (Ed), Some Aspects of the Living Conditions of the People of Lagos State, Faculty of Social 

Sciences, Lagos State University, Ojo, p. 2. 
2 Arowolo, O.O. (1990), op. cit., p. 207. 
3 Banking and Finance Institutions in Nigeria, http://www.nigeriagalleria.com at 26 February, 2011. 
4 Nigeria (l982) Nigeria Provisional Census Result, New Nigeria Daily Newspaper, March 20, 1992, Kaduna. 
5Odewunmi, S.G: Lagos State: Location, Extent and Constituent/// Fundamentals of General Studies edited by A.O.K Noah, 

1995, p. 117. 
6 Odewunmi, S.G., op. cit., p. 117. 

  7 Odewunmi, S.G., supra, p. 117. 

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Local Government Reform of 1976, the state was further divided into eight Local Government Areas. These are 

Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin West, Mushin East (later called Somolu), Ikeja, Ikorodu, Badagry and 

Epe8. In 1979, the Lagos State administration of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande further sub-divided the state into 

twenty two Local Government Areas. These are - Agege, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Alimosho, Apapa, Badagry, Ebute-

Metta/Yaba, Epe, Ibeju Lekki, Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Irepodun, Itire/Ikate, Kosofe, Lagos Island, 

Mushin, Odi-Olowo, Ojo, Oshodi/Isolo, Somolu and Surulere9. The subsequent military governments both at 

federal and state have increased and reduced the number of Local Government Areas in Lagos State for one 

reason or the other until 199810 when the present Nigerian 1999 Constitution was approved and signed into law. 

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for twenty Local Government Areas for 

Lagos State as follows: Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa, 

Ibeju/Lekki, Ifako-ljaye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ojo, Oshodi/Isolo, 

Somolu and Surulere11. 

 

The growth of Lagos is going a bit faster than the rate of its requisite development. Before the capital city of 

Nigeria was relocated to Abuja, Lagos was the capital of Nigeria. The fact of its history as the former capital of 

Nigeria coupled with the fact of its geographical location as a major port of entry from outside the country and 

exit from the country by sea and air greatly contributed to its unprecedented constant growth12. Lagos State 

being the custodian of the former capital city of Nigeria is a socio-cultural centre accommodating all and sundry 

from all parts of the country and including foreign nationals. Despite the small size of Lagos as the smallest in 

land mass, nonetheless about 81% of the people are living in urban areas. The cultural composition of Lagos 

population is: Yoruba as that represent the majority of about 72%, the lgbos represent about 10%, the Edos 

represent about 3%, the Hausas 2% while almost all the other ethnic groups exist in various proportions below 

2%. Non-Nigerians constitute about 2% of the population13. The above factors make Lagos a unique place in the 

life of Nigerians. The activities of people in socio-cultural, economic and political relations vis-à-vis the land 

mass of Lagos put a lot of pressure on the government of Lagos State in terms of provision of amenities which 

seem to be inadequate in the face of massive input from the government. One of the ways open to the 

government in coping with its task of governance is to restructure the state by creating more local government 

development areas in other to meet the demands for effective administration for the benefit of Lagosians. 

 

4. Creation of 57 Local Government Areas 

In order that government should be brought nearer to the people and relying on Section 8(3) of the 1999 

constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Lagos State government passed a law known as the creation 

of Local Government Area Law 2002 wherein 57 Local Government Areas were created in place of the former 

20 Local Government Areas. The local government areas14 are: 

 

S/N Local Government Area Headquarters 

1. Agbado/Oke-Odo Abule-Egba 

2. Agboyi/Ketu Alapere 

3. Agege Sango 

4. Ajeromi Ajegunle 

5. Alimosho Akowonjo 

6. Amowu-Odofin Amuwo 

7. Apapa Apapa 

8. Apapa Iganmu Badiya 

9. Ayobo/Ipaja Igbogila 

10. Badagry West Kankon 

11. Badagry Badagry Town 

12. Bariga Pedro 

13. Coker Aguda Aguda 

 
8  Odewunmi, S.G., op. cit., p. 117. 
9  Odewunmi, S.G., op. cit., p. 117. 
10  See the Forwarding Notes to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Promulgation. 
11  See first Schedule, Part 1, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. This Constitution came into force on 29th 

May, 1999. 
12  Odumosu, T. & Adedokun, L. (1990), ‘Some Aspects of the Urban and Rural Areas of Lagos State// Arowolo, O.O. (ed.) 

(1990), Some Aspects of the Living Conditions of the people of Lagos State, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State 

University, Ojo, Lagos, p. 2. 
13  Odewunmi, S.G., op. cit., p. 130. 
14  A Law to Provide for the Creation of New Local Government Areas in Lagos State adopted 24 June, 2002. 



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14. Egbe-Idirnu Isheri-Olofin 

15. Ejigbo Ejigbo 

16. Epe Itamarun 

17. Eredo Eredo 

18. Eti-Osa East Ajah 

19. Eti-Osa West Igbo Efon 

20. Iba Oyonka 

21. Ibeju Igando Oloja 

22. Ifako-Ijaye Ifako 

23. Ifelodun Amukoko 

24. Igando/Ikotun Ikotun 

25. Igbogbo-Bayeku Igbogbo 

26. Ijede Maidan 

27. Ikeja Ikeja 

28. Ikorodu Ikorodu Town 

29. Ikorodu North Odogiyan 

30. Ikorodu West Owutu 

31. Ikosi-Ejinrin Agbowa 

32. Ikosi Isheri Ikosi 

33. Ikoyi Obalende 

34. Imota Ebute-Ajebo 

35. Iru-Victoria Island Victoria Island 

36. Isolo Isolo 

37. Itire-Ikate Itire 

38. Kosofe Ojota 

39. Lagos Island East Kakawa 

40. Lagos Island West Isale-Eko 

41. Lagos Mainland Oyingbo 

42. Lekki Lekki 

43. Mosan-Okunola Akin-Ogun 

44. Mushin Mushin 

45. Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Ilupeju 

46. Ojo Alaworo 

47. Ojodu Oke Ira 

48. Ojokoro Ijaiye 

49. Olorunda Iworo 

50. Onigbongbo Opebi 

51. Oriade Ijegun Ibasa 

52. Orile Agege Abekoro 

53. Oshodi Oshodi 

54. Oto Awori Ijanikin 

55. Somolu Bajulaye 

56. Surulere Surulere 

57. Yaba Adekunle 

 

The adoption of the law to provide for the creation of New Local Government Areas in Lagos sparked off a lot 

of questions, comments, arguments and disagreements between the Lagos State Government and the Federal 

Government on one hand and a lot of discussions in the academia, judiciary and especially amongst the 

populace in the press on the other hand. The Federal Government under the presidency of Chief Olusegun 

Obasanjo was vehement in its disagreement with the Lagos law and especially in creating thirty seven (37) 

additional Local Council Development Government Areas without first agreeing with the federal authorities. On 

Saturday, 27th March 2004, the Lagos State Government conducted elections into the new 57 Local 

Government Councils established by the creation of the New Local Government Area Law15 and chairmen of 57 

New Local Governments were sworn-in on Monday, 29th March, 2004 by the Governor of Lagos State. On the 

8th of April, 2004, the President wrote to the Minister of Finance instructing the Minister not to release 

 
15  The Creation of New Local Government Law, No. 5, 2002, S. 4. 



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allocations from the Federation Account to the states where New Local Governments were created and elections 

held into them including Lagos. 

 

It is pertinent to note that some state governments in the country have before then created new Local 

Government Areas and conducted elections into them without open disagreement from the Federal Government. 

Available information indicates that some states namely Ebonyi, Katsina, Nasarawa arid Niger States conducted 

the local government election in new Local Government Areas by their respective States’ Assemblies without 

much noise from the federal government until Lagos State did the same16. While the State House of Assembly 

are empowered by the 1999 Constitution to create new Local Government Areas, the National Assembly is, 

however, required to make consequential provisions by an Act with respect to the names and headquarters of the 

new local government areas for any of such new local governments to have constitutional recognition17. 

 

The above constitutional questions arose because Lagos State and some other states have acted to tamper with 

the existing boundaries between Local Government Areas which has jurisdictional and financial implications for 

both the State and the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Federal Government in swift reaction ordered the 

Lagos State Government to revert to the 20 Local Government Areas as provided for in Part 1, first schedule of 

the constitution and that until it reverts back to the 20 Local Government Areas, Federal Allocations from the 

Federal Government wifi be withheld. The Lagos State disagreed with the Federal Government and 

consequently sued the federal government18. In the case between A.G Lagos State v. A.G Federation, seven 

issues were raised four of which touch and concern boundaries which is the subject of this paper. These issues 

are presented hereunder: 

 

Issues No. 3: Whether or not the plaintiff has power under the 1999 constitution to abolish Local Government 

Areas created under the 1999 constitution by altering their names, adjusting their boundaries and dividing them 

into smaller units; 

 

Issues No. 4: Whether or not the plaintiff has power under the 1999 constitution to create new Local 

Governments without recourse to the National Assembly as provided for under the constitution; 

 

Issues No. 5: Whether the creation of Local Government Areas law, No. 5 of 2002 of Lagos State is invalid 

without or before the enactment of an Act of the National Assembly enacted pursuant to Section 8(5) of the 

1999 Constitution; and 

 

Issues No. 6: Whether or not the creation of Local Government Areas law, No. 5 of 2002 of Lagos State has 

become part of the laws of Lagos State or whether the said instrument never became law or if it purported to 

have become law it is void for inconsistency with the constitution.19 

 

Responding to some of the issues raised, the Supreme Court considered inter alia the power of state government 

to create new local government council, the Court said that: 

A state of the federation has the power under Sections 7(1) and 8(3) of the 1999 constitution 

to create new local government areas as was done in Law No. 5 of 2002 and of 2004 by 

Lagos State. However, the New Local Government so created will not take effect or come 

into operation until the National Assembly accordingly amends Section 3(6) and Part 1 of the 

first schedule to the constitution20. 

 

Continuing, the court stated that: 

Under Section 8(3) of the 1999 Constitution the House of Assembly of a State is empowered 

to pass a bill for the creation of new local government areas. It may also under Section 8(4) 

pass a bill to adjust the boundary of any existing local government area. It follows that in the 

process of creating new or additional local government areas which will of necessity lead to 

the adjustment of boundaries of some or all the existing ones, a State House of Assembly is 

adequately enabled by subsection (3) and (4) of Section 8 to alter the boundaries of the 

existing local government areas that consequently come into being21. 

 

 
16  Gbenga Salau, 20 years on, LCDAs for good governance, development, The Guardian Newspaper, 20th February 2022 
17  See S; 8(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. 
18 Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2004) 18 NWLR (pt. 904), p. 1-148.  
19  Ibid. p. 7. 
20  Ibid. p. 37. 
21  Ibid, pp. 38 at p. 101, paras E-G. 



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Despite the ‘war’ between the federal government and the Lagos State government on the creation or adjustment 

of local government areas, the people continue to show their discontentment to the Lagos government either for 

not giving or creating new Local Government Areas for them or for adjustment in the boundaries of their 

existing Local Government Areas. The above moved the Fashola government to pass another law to establish 

the Lagos State Boundary Committee and for other connected matters. This is the focus of this paper. 

 

5. Lagos State Boundary Committee Law 

The Lagos State Boundary Committee law is a law promulgated by the Babatunde Raji Fashola’s government 

on the 13th of July, 2009. The law is short having only 16 sections in all. 

 

Powers of the Committee 

The committee shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal. The committee may sue 

and be sued in its corporate name and may acquire, hold and dispose of movable and immovable properties for 

the purpose of carrying out its functions under this law22. 

 

Composition of the Committee 

The committee shall not exceed ten (10) members. The members of the committee shall be appointed by the 

Governor and are to be responsible for administering the affairs of the body. It shall consist of the Deputy-

Governor of Lagos State who shall be the chairman. Other members of the Committee include the 

Commissioners for Lands, Information and Strategy, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Physical 

Planning and Urban Development, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and the Surveyor-

General of Lagos State and including not more than three (3) other persons with relevant skills and experience 

in boundary and border matters who shall be appointed by the Governor23. 

 

Tenure of Office 

The members of the committee shall hold office on part-time basis24. This is a positive dimension in governance 

as members have their primary assignments and it will be cost effective for the government to manage. It will be 

nice if government is left in the hand of professionals who will deliver on their assignments. This will also make 

such members to be alive to their responsibilities while sitting as members of such government committees. The 

members of the committee appointed pursuant to Section 2(1) (e) shall hold office for a period of four years and 

may be eligible for re appointment for a further term as may be determined by the governor. These are 

appointed members from outside the official of government who have relevant skills and experience in 

boundary and border matters25. A member may be removed from office if he has: 

a) Become incapable by reason of mental or bodily infirmity of discharging his duties 

b) Been convicted of an offence which involves moral turpitude; or 

c) Been involved in any act that may be considered inimical to the interest of the committee or the state. 

Members of the committee shall be paid allowances as may be approved by the Governor26. 

 

Functions of the Committee 

The committee is saddled with many functions. These functions were the main reasons that made the 

government of Lagos State to enact the law by which the committee is created. The functions of the committee 

are as follows27: 

1) The committee shall deal with inter and intra-local government and Local Council Development Area 

boundary disputes within the state. 

2)  It shall define and delimit inter and Intra-local Government Development Areas. 

3)  It shall liaise with the chairmen of local governments and Local Council Development Areas. 

4)  It shall identify and intervene in areas of potential disputes in the state. 

5)  Promote good inter-community relationship among border dwellers. 

6)  Promote peace and harmony between communities involved in boundary disputes. 

7) Monitor the activities of local government and Local Council Development Areas boundary sub-committees 

and deal with disputes that cannot be resolved by them. 

8) Evolve measures for joint utilization of amenities along local government and Local Council Development 

Area Boundaries. 

9)  Encourage negotiated settlement of boundary disputes. 

 
22  The Lagos State Boundary Committee Law, Law No. 13, 2009 Section 1. 
23  Ibid, Section 2(1) 
24  Ibid, Section 2(2)  
25  Ibid Section 3(1) 
26  Section 3(3) 
27  Section 4 



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10) Carry out awareness and enlightenment campaigns on the importance of boundaries in order to foster peace 

and harmony among the people living along the boundary, and 

11) Prepare Border Area Community Development Plan. 

 

The functions of this committee are expensive, delicate; arduous and touch and concerns national and 

international borders. Elias once observed that the problems that confronted states of Africa after the attainment 

of independence and urgent fall into two categories: The first are those that may be inherited based on the 

application of the principle of succession, the second are those that are the results of post independent 

alignments -(post creation -of states and local government alignments-emphasis mine) mainly in economic and 

technical aspects28. These include boundary disputes or frontier incidents resulting from the partitioning of 

Africa among the great powers during the nineteenth century. For example, the boundary created between 

Apapa and Ajeromi by the colonialist remained today as the boundary between Apapa and Ajeromi Local 

Government Areas in Lagos State. However, Elias contended that it would be wrong to infer from the examples 

of border conflicts in Africa such as between Ethiopia and Somalia; Somalia and Kenya; Algeria and Morocco 

that boundary disputes between African states have always and everywhere led to skirmishes29. In order to 

quickly nib disputes in the bud or to bring peace and resolve dispute whenever they arise, the Lagos State 

government has learnt from history and has put forward a formidable mechanism for peaceful resolution of 

whatever dispute either real or imaginary amongst the Local Government Areas and Local Council 

Development Areas in Lagos State by adopting a law for the creation of Lagos State Boundary Committee. 

 

Meeting of the Committee 

The committee shall hold meetings from time to time. The chairman shall preside at its meetings and in his 

absence, a member shall be appointed to Chair the meeting. The quorum for meetings shall be two- thirds of its 

total members30. All decisions made at the meetings shall be by majority of votes of members present. This 

means that a simple majority of two-thirds of members of the committee is sufficient for decisions to be taken 

by the committee. Since the total members of the committee are ten, seven are needed for quorum, four 

members will be able to take decision for the committee as the case may be. This is law and democracy at work. 

 

Secretariat 

The committee’s secretariat is housed by a secretary appointed from the State Civil Service. There shall be 

professional and non-professional staff appointed to work under the supervision of the secretary for carrying out 

the job the committee31. 

 

Sub-Committee 

The committee may establish sub-committees in every Local Government and Local Council Development Area 

of the state. This sub-committee shall consist of; 

1) The Vice Chairman of the Local Government and Local Council Development Area; 

2) Traditional Ruler(s) from the affected area(s); 

3) Head of Department of Agriculture; 

4) Legal Adviser; 

5) Information Officer; 

6) A Representative of Community Development Committee; and 

7) A knowledgeable boundary expert appointed by the Chairman of the Local Government and Local Council 

Development Area. 

 

The sub-committee32 shall be responsible for: 

1) The resolution of inter-community boundary disputes; 

2) Liaising with the committee on boundary problems affecting Local Government or Local Council 

Development Areas; 

3) Identifying areas of potential boundary disputes and alert the committee of such disputes; 

4) Liaising with neighboring Local Government or Local Council Development Areas towards evolving joint 

programmes that may promote harmony among border dwellers; 

5) Encouraging settlement of disputes in their areas and where disputes cannot be resolved refer such to the 

committee; and 

 
28 Elias, T.O (Edited and Revised by Richard Akinjide) Africa and the Development of International Law, 1988, p. 162. 
29 Elias, T.O, op. cit., pg. 162. 
30 Lagos State Boundary Committee Law No. 13 of 2009, Sections 5 
31 Ibid., Section 6. 
32 Ibid, Sections 7 and 8 



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6) Carrying out awareness campaign programmes with a view to encourage peaceful relationship in their 

community. 

The members of the committee and sub-committee shall work within the ethics of operation. This should not 

work for personal gain, and should not release confidential information to unauthorized persons. 

 

Funding of the Committee 

There shall be established a fund for the committee for all its operations as may be approved by the Governor33. 

To this fund shall be paid all revenue legitimately accruing to the committee. 

Such revenue includes: 

1) All subventions and budgetary allocations from the state government; 

2) Such money as may from time to time be granted or lent to the committee by the state or Local Government 

or Local Council Development Areas; 

3) Gifts, loans, grants in aid from National, bilateral and multilateral agencies; and 

4) Such other money or may be received by the committee in the course of its duties or in relation to the 

exercise of its functions under this law 

 

Annual Report 

The committee is an important organ of the Lagos State government to the extent that it receives subventions 

and allocations from the state government. An adage says ‘He who pays the piper dictates the tune’. The 

committee is to fully account for its activities and make an annual report to the state government not later than 

the 30th of September every year. This report shall include an estimate of its expenditure and income to be 

submitted to the Governor. 

The committee shall also cause its accounts to be audited six months after the end of each year by auditors 

appointed from the list of approved Auditors provided by the Auditor of the state34. 

 

Miscellaneous Provisions 

The Governor may give such directives of a general nature or on matters of public regarding the exercise of its 

functions. The Committee may, subject to the approval of the House of Assembly, make such regulations as are 

necessary or expedient to give full effect to the provisions of this law35. This is a form of delegated legislation. It 

is practically impossible for the parliament to make laws concerning everything within its jurisdiction.  The 

functions, rights, interests, obligations and liabilities of the committee existing before the commencement of this 

law, under any contract or instrument, shall be deemed to have been assigned to and vested in the committee 

established under this law36. This provision allows retroactivity of law in its application. In general, laws cannot 

be retroactive, especially when it works injustice against the parties to a dispute. But retroactivity in the 

application of this law will not necessarily work injustice against any party in dispute. This is so because the 

provisions of Section 14(5) provides that ‘Any proceedings or cause of action by or against the committee in 

respect of its rights, interests, obligations or liabilities which are pending before the commencement of this law 

may commence or be continued and any determination of the court, tribunal or other authority may be enforced 

by or against the committee’. 

The word ‘Border’ under this law means the strip of land or maritime area straddling or lying along the corridor 

of a boundary within a stipulated distance. 

 

The word ‘Boundary’ means the line of demarcation which delimits the extent of administrative jurisdiction of a 

state and its separate constituent units. Borders are generally defined as geographical boundaries of political 

entities or legal jurisdiction such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and subnational entities37. It 

is also defined as a part that forms the outer edge of something…, a strip of ground in which as at the edge of a 

garden or walk38 or a strip of ground in which ornamental plants are grown39. Paradoxically, a boundary is an 

entity demarcated from its surroundings. There is a boundary (a surface) demarcating the interior of a sphere 

from its exterior40. The law under review defines ‘community’ as a body of persons living near one another and 

sharing the same environment and common amenities41. 

 

 
33 Ibid Section 10. 
34 Ibid; Section 12. 
35 Ibid; Section 14(l)(2) 
36 Ibid; Section 14(3) 
37 www.ukha.homeoffice.gov.uk, accessed on the 25 of February, 2023 
38 www.answers.com/topic/border, accessed on the 25 of February, 2023 
39 www.en.wiktionarv.org/wiki/border,  accessed on the 25 of February, 2023 
40 Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 
41 Lagos State Boundary Committee Law No. 13, 2009, Section 15. 

http://www.ukha.homeoffice.gov.uk/
http://www.answers.com/topic/border
http://www.en.wiktionarv.org/wiki/border


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6. Conclusion 

The Lagos State Boundary Committee Law enacted by the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration in Lagos 

(although small in number of sections) is like a mustard seed sown which will eventually germinate and grow to 

be a very big tree that will bear much fruits. Today, we hear about killings in other states in Nigeria, it is 

because of lack of peace and harmony. Lagos being one of the fastest growing cities in Africa needs peace, 

progress, development of infrastructure and harmony. The existence of 20 Local governments’ recocgnised by 

the Constitution has become grossly inadequate in the present situation of things. The diligent work (and 

observing all the rules of engagement) by this Committee will deliver the needed peace and developmental base 

needed for harmonious relationship between all the strata of people in Lagos State. 

 

 


