Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, has unveiled a 100-point development agenda that includes plans to increase the state’s public bus fleet from 1,000 to 4,000 if elected governor in 2027.
Hamzat, who presented his manifesto, tagged The Lagos Promise (Ileri Eko), at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Iganmu, also promised to upgrade 100 primary healthcare centres and increase maternal and child healthcare facilities from 10 to 15.
The manifesto contains 87 firm commitments and 13 aspirations across seven pillars, including healthcare, education, transportation, security, housing, economic opportunities, governance and environmental resilience.
Hamzat said his administration would introduce measurable targets and a public performance scorecard to allow Lagos residents track the implementation of government policies.
In healthcare, he pledged to expand the Ilera Eko insurance scheme, which currently covers nearly two million people, to one in three residents, with priority for poor and vulnerable households.
He also promised to build general hospitals at Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki, complete ongoing projects at Massey Children’s Hospital, Ojo and Somolu, and provide 580 additional hospital beds.
On transportation, Hamzat promised to extend the Blue Line to Okokomaiko, advance the Green Line from Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone and connect the Blue and Red lines through an interchange at the National Theatre.
He also pledged 75 additional electric ferries, the refurbishment of 25 ferry terminals and expansion of water transport corridors by 140 kilometres under the Omi Eko project.
For road infrastructure, he promised to activate the Fourth Mainland Bridge through partnerships, accelerate the Regional Road along the Lekki-Epe corridor and commence the second phase of the Opebi-Mende Link Bridge.
Hamzat said his administration would strengthen EKOEXCEL across 1,028 public primary schools, improve teacher training and review teachers’ remuneration.
He also promised to expand technical and vocational education and pursue a University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
To tackle unemployment, the APC candidate proposed six to 12 months of workplace training for graduates of vocational and technical institutions, with government paying 40 per cent of their stipends. Skilled artisans would also receive free certification.
He further promised affordable mortgages requiring a 10 per cent initial deposit, single-digit interest rates and longer repayment periods, alongside completion of ongoing housing projects.
On security, Hamzat pledged to extend the Neighbourhood Safety Agency to all wards across Lagos’ 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs, while expanding street lighting, CCTV surveillance and intelligence coordination.
He also promised that government agencies would acknowledge complaints within 48 hours, respond within seven days and resolve them within 30 days.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other APC leaders rallied support for Hamzat, describing him as an experienced administrator capable of sustaining Lagos’ development.
Sanwo-Olu particularly praised Hamzat for stepping down for him during the 2018 governorship contest before agreeing to serve as his deputy.
He also cited Hamzat’s contributions to major projects, including the Blue and Red rail lines and Lekki Deep Sea Port, as evidence of his capacity.
Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; former Deputy Governor Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan; and APC state chairman Cornelius Ojelabi also endorsed Hamzat.
Sanwo-Olu urged party members to take Hamzat’s candidacy beyond the APC, while advocating continuity in projects such as the rail lines, Fourth Mainland Bridge, Lekki-Epe International Airport and Omu Creek project.
Hamzat, in presenting his manifesto, urged Lagosians to scrutinise his promises and hold him accountable for delivery.
“Check it. Track it. Measure it,” he said.
