Lagos Government Withholds Funds As DSVA, Other Agencies Get Zero Capital Allocations From January To June

A review of the Lagos State 2025 Second Quarters (Q2) budget performance has revealed that some government critical agencies and parastatals in the state did not receive any funding for capital expenditure from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in 2025 first and second quarters (Q1 and Q2).

The Q2 performance report revealed that on capital expenditure by administrative classification, under the Lagos State Ministry of Youth & Social Development, Office of Disability Affairs, which got a budget allocation of N279,579,643.62 in the 2025 original approved budget, received zero funding in the first and second quarters (Q1 and Q2) of the year.

Also, under the Lagos State Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, the Office of Urban Development, with N5,051,945,131.50 budget allocation in the state’s 2025 original approved budget, received zero funding from the state government in the 2025 Q1 and Q2 under capital expenditure by administrative classification.

Similarly, under capital expenditure by administrative classification, several agencies under the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, including the Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency (LSDVSA) received zero funding during the period under review.

According to the budget performance report, the Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency (LSDVSA) which got a budget allocation of N88,025,000, out of the total N3,699,580,314 allocated to the Ministry of Justice in the state’s 2025 original approved budget under capital expenditure by administrative classification, received zero funding from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration from January to June 2025.

Also, the Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute, and the Office of Administrator General, which got budget allocation of N97,500,000, and N78,000,000 respectively in the 2025 original approved budget under capital expenditure by administrative classification, received zero funding from the government within the period under review.

The review further showed that the Lagos State Citizen’s Mediation Center which got the sum of N48,750,000 from the 2025 approved budget, the Lagos State Office of Public Defender, which got N70,159,087 budget allocation, and the Lagos State Multi-Door Court House with a budget allocation of N117,000,000, respectively did not receive any funding from the state government from January to June 2025 under capital expenditure by administrative classification.

Meanwhile, despite the non-funding of the state’s office of the disability affairs, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende in July 2025 said that the State Government is committed to promoting inclusive opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Amid the revelation of the non-funding of the office of the disability affairs by the state government, Ogunlende however described disability inclusion as both a right and a driver of sustainable socio-economic growth.

Ogunlende at the Disability Empowerment and Employability Project (DEEP) Conference held recently at Kano Hall, NECA House, Lagos, stressed that the conversation around inclusive employment for PWDs must go beyond policy to practical action.

Also, the revelation of the non-release of the budget allocations to these agencies in the past two quarters of the year comes when the Lagos State Government said it has recorded a sharp increase in the reportage of sexual and domestic violence, with 8,692 cases reported between August 2024 and July 2025.

According to the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), the youngest survivor in the year under review was 18 months old, while the oldest was 79 years old, which underscored the fact that sexual abuse cuts across age groups.

“Between August 2024 and July 2025, the DSVA received a total of 8,692 cases through both physical walk-ins and the Virtual Referral and Response Service. On average, the Agency attends to over 400 clients monthly,” Pedro said.

A breakdown of the cases by Pedro showed 3,685 cases of domestic violence as the most prevalent category.

Also recorded were 243 cases of defilement and 244 cases of child abuse/physical assault; 99 cases of rape, 48 cases of sexual harassment, and 25 cases of sexual assault by penetration.

Other cases included cyber harassment, threats to life, and family-related disputes such as custody, neglect, and child labour.

Pedro further revealed that 3,090 children were exposed to emotional abuse due to witnessing violence at home, while 30 percent of female victims disclosed that they were pregnant during the abuse.

The Attorney-General of the state further noted that the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), the same agency which received zero funding from from the state government from January to June 2025, under capital expenditure by administrative classification, provided a wide range of support services to the victims.

Pedro identified support services provided by DSVA to include free legal aid to 146 survivors; healthcare services at General Hospitals and referral centres such as Mirabel and WARIF.

Shelter and safety for 30 survivors at Eko Haven and other facilities; psychotherapy and counseling for 1487 survivors and 249 abusers, and 402 rescue operations to protect victims from dangerous environments.

(SaharaReporters)