Lagos Power Play: Hamzat Unveils Ambitious 100-Point Agenda Amidst Succession Buzz

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has lauded his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, as a remarkably loyal and dependable partner, asserting his commitment to governance makes him the ideal candidate to continue the state’s leadership trajectory. Sanwo-Olu recounted on social media how Dr. Hamzat, in 2018, set aside his own gubernatorial aspirations to back Sanwo-Olu’s emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate. The governor highlighted Hamzat’s extensive thirteen-year tenure in public service under former Lagos governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola before party leaders requested his withdrawal from the race. Dr. Hamzat, without resentment, accepted the decision and agreed to run alongside Sanwo-Olu five weeks later, a gesture the governor has never forgotten, affirming, “It takes a rare man to put down what he wants without nursing a grudge.”

Sanwo-Olu emphasized that their seven-year working relationship has consistently demonstrated Dr. Hamzat’s unwavering loyalty, commitment, and exceptional capacity to function effectively as part of a cohesive team. Their partnership has remained robust through significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and monumental infrastructure projects such as the Blue and Red rail lines, and the commissioning of the Lekki Deep Sea Port. Dr. Hamzat’s contributions to critical decisions on these major projects long preceded their official launch. Described as an exceptional public servant, Dr. Hamzat has fulfilled his promise to be the best deputy governor in Lagos history, maintaining a united front with Governor Sanwo-Olu throughout their tenure, marked by “one government, one direction, and one voice.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu strongly defended Lagos State’s political succession arrangement, likening it to a relay race where successive leaders maintain momentum and work collaboratively before passing the baton. This system, he argued, has ensured continuity in governance since 1999, fostering sustained development. He cited Dr. Hamzat’s rich experience in infrastructure development, including constructing the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge under Governor Fashola and contributing to government digitization under Governor Tinubu, alongside his engineering background and family's legacy in public service. Addressing criticisms about selecting leaders from the same political circle, Sanwo-Olu asserted that Lagos cultivates its leadership through accumulated experience and continuity. With major projects underway and a comprehensive master plan extending to 2052, he stressed that “this is not the time to experiment” but rather to build on ongoing efforts, positioning Dr. Hamzat’s vision as a continuation of work already in progress.

Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the APC Governorship candidate, on his part, unveiled a comprehensive 100-point development agenda for Lagos State, promising that his administration, if elected, would be judged by tangible achievements rather than mere political rhetoric. During the presentation of his manifesto, he urged residents to critically examine his commitments, identify those relevant to their families and communities, document them, and hold him accountable for their fulfillment. Hamzat articulated his ambition to forge a Lagos that genuinely serves all residents, driven by an administration dedicated to development, inclusivity, and an improved quality of life, declaring, “This is the mandate I ask of you. The opportunity to serve you as your governor. The responsibility to deliver and the duty to answer to you.”

On transportation, Hamzat pledged to significantly expand the state’s public bus fleet from 1,000 to over 4,000, targeting the daily transport of one million passengers. He also committed to expanding the rail network, specifically extending the Blue Line to Ojo and establishing an interchange connecting the Blue and Red lines at the National Theatre station. Furthermore, he promised to advance the proposed Green Line from Marina to the Lekki Free Zone in collaboration with the Federal Government. For water transportation, he plans to dredge an additional 140 kilometers of waterways, optimize 15 ferry routes, rehabilitate 27 of 47 existing terminals, and acquire 75 electric ferry boats, envisioning the lagoon as the state’s third major transportation corridor. His administration would integrate road, rail, and water transport into a coordinated system with unified ticketing and timetables.

Beyond transportation, Hamzat’s agenda includes an aggressive rehabilitation of inner roads across communities, partnering with local governments and the Lagos State Public Works Corporation. He also pledged to reconstruct strategic traffic-bearing roads, activate the Fourth Mainland Bridge through partnerships, accelerate the regional road along the Lake Yembe axis, and commence the second phase of the Ogbebe-Mindene Link Bridge. In housing, he promised to enhance home ownership accessibility through mortgage arrangements requiring a 10 percent initial deposit, lower interest rates, and extended repayment periods. For security, he committed to strengthening the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, extending its reach to every ward, and establishing a state intelligence centre to combat cybercrime, financial crimes, and organized criminal activities.

Endorsing the continuity narrative, former Lagos Deputy Governor Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan underscored the importance of building on past successes while adapting to new challenges. She affirmed that Lagos’s progress stems from strategic planning and purposeful leadership, urging the next administration to uphold effective policies and address shortcomings. Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Director-General of the PBAT-KOH Campaign Council, pledged a peaceful, disciplined, and issue-based campaign, focusing on Hamzat’s experience, competence, and policy proposals. The campaign, guided by 'Forward and Together', aims to consolidate existing achievements, bridge development gaps, and create more opportunities for all residents, regardless of background.

Governor Sanwo-Olu concluded by urging Lagos residents to rally behind Dr. Hamzat’s leadership ambition, presenting him as a candidate already deeply embedded in the state’s governance and development priorities. He underscored that Lagos does not entrust its future to those standing still, but to someone like Hamzat, who is "already running," urging collective movement forward with “The Lagos PROMISE.”