Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, officially created in 1996, has a history that reflects the complex administrative evolution of Lagos State. Originally, it was one of three districts under the Badagry Division, established by the 1968 Administrative Division Edict, which divided Lagos into five divisions: Lagos, Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu, and Ikeja. Within the Badagry Division, the three main districts were Egun-Awori, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and Awori.

The 1976 Local Government Reforms brought major changes, merging these three districts into a single Badagry Local Government, headquartered in Badagry town. Its boundaries stretched from Apapa in Lagos to the Seme Border, reflecting a vast administrative area.

With the return of civil governance in October 1979, Governor Alhaji Lateef Jakande increased the number of local governments to 23, splitting Badagry Local Government into Ojo (formerly Awori District), Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and Badagry. This structure was short-lived, however, as the 1983 military coup reversed these changes, reinstating the 1976 eight-local government framework.

Recognizing operational inefficiencies, Major-General Tunde Idiagbon’s administration set up a 20-member committee led by Alhaji Dasuki to review local government structures. The Dasuki Committee concluded that local government challenges were primarily operational rather than structural. It recommended that new local governments be created every 10 years, based on clear criteria including population, tax base, administrative convenience, cultural identity, financial viability, and community interest.

Although these recommendations were not immediately applied, Lagos State implemented them in stages. In 1989, Ojo Local Government was carved out of Badagry. Later, in 1996, Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Amuwo Odofin Local Governments emerged from Ojo, bringing Lagos State’s total local governments to 20.

Despite Lagos being Nigeria’s most populous state, the number of local governments remained limited compared to other states. For instance, Kano and Jigawa, with smaller populations, had a combined 84 local councils, gaining greater access to federal allocations.

To address this disparity and improve grassroots representation, Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in October 2003 created 37 additional Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) from the existing 20 local governments. While this did not increase Lagos’ statutory federal allocation, it decentralized governance, enhanced service delivery, and brought government closer to residents.

Today, Ajeromi-Ifelodun stands as a testament to Lagos State’s evolving administrative history, reflecting the interplay of population growth, local identity, and the quest for effective governance. Its journey from a district in the Badagry Division to a modern local government underscores the importance of strategic administrative reforms in shaping Nigeria’s most dynamic state.