The Lagos State Records And Archives Bureau (LASRAB)

The Lagos State Records And Archives Bureau (LASRAB)

Records management is an important part of overall governance strategy. The Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) was established in 1995 as a public sector reform program to manage Lagos State’ s current and historical records. In 2002, it was established as the Integrated Records and Archives management Program (IRAMP), a sub-component of the World Bank-assisted State Governance and Capacity Building Program (SGCBP) which later became the Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project (LMDGP). 

The bureau’s headquarters, located at Magodo GRA, Phase 2 is a special-purpose building consisting of archival facilities such as a Mini-museum, Repositories, Audio-Visual Studio, Search/Reading Rooms, Training Room, Reference Library, Conference Room, Gallery, Conservatory, Micrograph and Reprography. These rooms are designed with modern archival facilities such as a Biometrics Control System, the Kodak Reference Archives System for microfilming and Xerox Reprographic Equipment for small and wide format papers.

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LASRAB formally became a legal entity as a Lagos State Government Agency pursuant to Law 22 of 2007. Administratively, LASRAB took-off in August 2008 and started operations in December 2008. The bureau is under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and Strategy.

LASRAB’s functions include regulating, controlling and management of records and archives of institutions and establishments operating within Lagos State. The agency is responsible for the task of collecting and preserving the historical assets of Lagos State. LASRAB ensures the use of innovative solutions and best practices to manage records & archives in order to preserve Lagos State’s cultural heritage and provide a database for planning and research in Lagos State.

It has successfully undertaken research and disseminated knowledge on the preservation and management of public, private and historical records as well as established and implemented procedures for the transfer of public records.

The agency has commenced the digitization of its assets to enhance record preservation by reducing wear and tear on the originals, as well as providing continuous access to materials that can no longer be seen in their original form. The objective of the agency is to ensure equitable access to government information by the public and preservation of historical records and heritage.