Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, has said that only “anarchists” describe Lagos as a no man’s land, insisting that such a claim has no historical or factual basis.
Omotoso made the remark at an event organised by the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) in Magodo to commemorate World Archives Day, where he emphasized the need to protect and preserve the state’s cultural and historical heritage.
“There is no empirical fact to support this bogus and vacuous claim, nor can it be validated through any available record,” Omotoso said. “The battle is between archivists, who preserve facts, and anarchists, who make sweeping and unsubstantiated claims.”
The Commissioner said the fight to preserve Lagos’ heritage must be waged on two fronts — technology and ideology. He stressed the importance of leveraging modern technology to make archival materials accessible to the public and to showcase Lagos’ rich history and achievements.
“We must use technology to tell our story — what our forefathers did and the kind of future we want for our children,” he added.
Omotoso commended LASRAB officials for their commitment and pledged the state government’s continued support to strengthen the bureau’s capacity to preserve Lagos’ historical records and cultural identity.
Dignitaries at the event included the Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro; the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal; the Opeluwa of Lagos, Chief Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose (representing the Oba of Lagos); and Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Erelu Kuti of Lagos, among others.