The Deputy Gov. of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has unveiled a policy agenda for the state, promising reforms in transportation, housing, security, technology, food distribution and justice delivery ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Hamzat made the commitments while presenting his Promise Agenda, tagged, ‘An Afternoon to Discuss the Facts and Figures of Lagos State: The 8th Largest Economy in Africa’. The event was organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in collaboration with the Contact and Mobilisation Committee, Formal Sector for PBAT and KOH on Tuesday in Victoria Island, Lagos State. . Hamzat, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 elections, described it as a social contract with Lagos residents, which he pledged to implement from May 29, 2027, if elected governor. He said the agenda was designed to establish measurable targets for government, enabling residents to assess performance and hold the administration accountable for its promises. Hamzat said transportation remained one of Lagos most pressing challenges, noting that traffic congestion costs the state an estimated economic losses of N1 trillion annually, with residents spending an average of four hours daily in traffic. He said Lagos had a vehicle density of 212 vehicles per kilometre, compared with the national average of 16, making the development of alternative transportation systems imperative. According to him, the state has identified 63 traffic junctions for improvement and addressed 33 of them, while plans are underway to expand Bus Rapid Transit services, improve terminals, develop rail infrastructure and increase water transportation. He said his administration would prioritise waterways to reduce pressure on roads, including developing ferry terminals and improving connections between communities such as Ikorodu, Badagry and other parts of Lagos. Hamzat also promised improved pedestrian walkways, greener public spaces and better organised bus terminals to separate commuters from vehicular traffic. He said the state aimed to plant 10 million trees within four years. On water supply, Hamzat said the completion of an ongoing water infrastructure project would provide additional access to water for six million people. On Jobs, technology and business growth, the APC candidate said the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund had supported businesses and activated about 340,000 jobs since 2019. He added that his administration if elected, would strengthen mentorship and business management support to help small enterprises survive and expand. He said the state had proposed four industrial parks in Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu and Ojo under its 2025–2030 industrial policy. Hamzat also pledged to harmonise government levies and regulatory processes to reduce the burden on businesses, while reviewing charges imposed on petty traders and micro-enterprises. On technology, he described Yaba as a major technology hub, saying its technology ecosystem had developed into a 15.3-billion-dollar economy with about 2,000 start-ups. He noted that Lagos was implementing a 1,000-kilometre fibre-optic cable network, with plans to expand it to 6,000 kilometres, while reducing broadband costs and supporting local technology companies. The deputy governor further added that the state would adopt a local-first procurement approach by giving qualified Nigerian technology firms the first opportunity to supply products required by the government. On food security and creative economy, Hamzat said the state was developing a 420-hectare food logistics hub and cold-chain network to reduce food wastage, improve storage and cut transportation costs between farmers and markets. He said: “The cold-chain facilities in Mushin and Gbagada has helped market women reduce logistics costs by 40 per cent while government is expanding medium-scale markets across the state.” “Also, the state will support farmers through a proposed N500 billion guarantee scheme, alongside arrangements in facilitating the purchase and distribution of locally produced food.” On the creative industry, Hamzat said Lagos would strengthen training in contract negotiation and intellectual property to enable artists and other creative professionals to earn better returns from their work. On Justice, inclusion and social welfare, the APC governorship candidate said the state was working with the judiciary to increase the civil jurisdiction of magistrates courts from N10 million to N15 million to reduce the backlog of cases in the High Courts. He said the government also wanted landlord-tenant disputes resolved within three months, adding that more courts would be established to improve access to justice. He disclosed that about 198 people had been prosecuted for domestic violence,
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.