Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
In a sweeping policy shift that will affect millions of families, the Lagos State Government has directed all public and private schools to make valid registration with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) a compulsory requirement for admitting and enrolling learners from the 2026/2027 academic session. The directive, which takes effect on Monday, September 14, 2026, mandates that schools obtain and document the valid LASRRA registration number of every learner during the admission and enrolment process. The announcement, made on Friday, September 4, signals the administration's determined push to build a comprehensive and verifiable database of learners across Africa's most populous city.
The directive was disclosed in a statement issued by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Adepeju Adeyemi, and approved by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Tolani Alli-Balogun. According to the statement, the initiative is designed to provide the government with dependable information that will enhance planning, monitoring, and service delivery within the education sector. Commissioner Alli-Balogun emphasized that capturing learners on the LASRRA database would strengthen school record-keeping, improve learner identification and verification, support effective tracking, and provide government agencies with credible information for evidence-based decisions.
"This initiative is part of the government's broader strategy to develop a reliable database of learners that will improve planning, monitoring and service delivery across the education sector," Alli-Balogun stated. The commissioner stressed that the policy is not merely an administrative hurdle but a strategic move to ensure that government planning is grounded in accurate, real-time data about the student population.
The OEQA, which is spearheading the implementation, has instructed schools to include each learner's LASRRA registration number in admission and school records while also creating awareness among parents and guardians about the new requirement. Schools are also expected to advise parents whose children or wards are yet to register with LASRRA to complete the process ahead of the new academic session. "Under the new arrangement, schools have been directed to include each learner's LASRRA registration number in admission and school records and to sensitise parents and guardians on the requirement," Adeyemi stated.
The government, however, has directed schools to protect the personal information of learners by ensuring that such data is processed and stored securely and confidentially in accordance with applicable data-protection regulations. This provision addresses potential concerns over privacy and the handling of sensitive student information, a critical consideration as the state moves toward greater digital integration in education.
The Director-General of the OEQA, Dr Sulaimon Olagoke Ogunmuyiwa, said the agency would work with LASRRA and other relevant government bodies to establish procedures for generating and assigning unique Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) to learners. Ogunmuyiwa noted that schools, parents, guardians, and learners would receive sensitisation, registration, and verification support as the policy takes effect. He added that compliance would be incorporated into the OEQA's routine monitoring and quality-assurance activities in public and private schools across the state.
The move comes shortly after LASRRA warned its registration agents against demanding payment from residents for the registration exercise, reiterating that LASRRA registration is entirely free. The General Manager of LASRRA, Bilikis Adebiyi-Abiola, called on residents to report any agent found attempting to collect money for the service. This clarification is crucial for parents who may be confused about costs or vulnerable to exploitation by fraudulent agents.
LASRRA has been ramping up its outreach efforts to ensure that every resident is captured in the state's database. Adebiyi-Abiola had earlier stated that the agency would be visiting offices, markets, and schools—especially private schools—to register residents. She noted that no student can gain admission into public schools without being registered with LASRRA, which is why the agency is focusing on visiting private schools to extend coverage. She has also implored Lagos residents to register for the Lagos Identity Card, describing it as critical to the state government having reliable data for planning.
The mandatory LASRRA registration for school admission is the latest in a series of initiatives by the Lagos State Government to leverage data for improved governance. The state has previously made LASRRA registration a prerequisite for accessing certain government services, including the state health insurance scheme. The government has also been working to register the number of people within specific areas across the state to ensure that services are planned around real people and real needs. The General Manager noted that parents can now register their babies at birth, as the agency's registration portal has been upgraded to accommodate newborns.
For millions of parents and guardians across Lagos, the new directive presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Those who have not yet registered with LASRRA must now do so before the start of the 2026/2027 academic session to avoid their children being denied admission. The government has made it clear that compliance is not optional, and schools that fail to enforce the policy will be subject to monitoring and quality-assurance actions by the OEQA.
Critics may argue that the policy adds another layer of bureaucracy to an already cumbersome admission process, particularly for parents in low-income communities who may lack the time, resources, or awareness to complete the registration. However, the government insists that the long-term benefits of a comprehensive learner database—improved planning, better resource allocation, and more effective service delivery—far outweigh the short-term inconveniences.
The policy also raises questions about the capacity of LASRRA to handle a surge in registration applications from families rushing to meet the September 14 deadline. The agency has assured residents that it is committed to making registration convenient and accessible, with plans to visit offices, markets, and schools to register residents. The General Manager has also called on traditional rulers and community leaders to support the sensitisation and registration process.
As Lagos State continues to grow at a rapid pace, with an estimated population of over 20 million, the need for accurate data on residents—including school-age children—has become increasingly urgent. The mandatory LASRRA registration for school admission is a bold step toward achieving that goal, ensuring that the government can plan for infrastructure, health, and education services based on reliable evidence rather than guesswork. For parents, the message is clear: the new school year brings a new requirement. Registration is free, but admission is not guaranteed without it.
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