Unveils 100-point agenda

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has unveiled a seven-pillar manifesto featuring 100 pledges, outlining his development priorities if elected governor in the 2027 general election.

Hamzat, who made the presentation at the launch of his manifesto, titled: ‘The Lagos Promise (Ileri Eko),” during the weekend said his proposed administration would prioritise people-centred governance, infrastructure renewal, economic opportunities, institutional reforms, inclusion, security and improved living conditions.

He said the manifesto contained 87 firm commitments and 13 aspirations, adding that the pledges would be subjected to public scrutiny through a performance scorecard.

“A serious plan tells you what will be delivered, where, when, and who is accountable. Welfare is not guaranteed by speeches. It is guaranteed by promises you can check,” he said.

The deputy governor, who has served alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu since 2019, said his experience in government and understanding of Lagos informed the development of the manifesto.

He described public service as a responsibility that required commitment, respect and honesty, identifying his guiding principles as Iteriba (respect), Ise (work) and Otito (truth).

According to him, the seven pillars of the manifesto are People First, Renewal, Opportunity, Machinery of Government, Inclusion, Security and Resilience, and Everyday Dignity.

On healthcare, Hamzat promised to increase the number of Maternal and Child Centres from 10 to 15 and expand access to the state’s health insurance scheme, Ilera Eko, to cover one in three Lagos residents, with priority given to low-income households.

He also pledged to deliver two new general hospitals at Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki, upgrade 100 primary healthcare centres and strengthen the state’s health workforce through the recruitment of more doctors, nurses and midwives.

He said the proposed administration would complete ongoing hospital projects, including the 150-bed Massey Children’s Hospital, the 280-bed Ojo General Hospital and the 150-bed Somolu General Hospital.

On education, the deputy governor promised to strengthen the EKOEXCEL programme, which currently operates in 1,028 public primary schools, while improving teacher development and learning outcomes.

He also pledged to expand access to vocational and technical education, improve teachers’ compensation and pursue the establishment of a University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Lagos.

Addressing unemployment and the challenges facing businesses, Hamzat said his administration would simplify business regulations, publish a unified schedule of lawful charges and increase access to credit, skills development and government procurement opportunities for small businesses.

He disclosed that the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund had provided more than N15bn to over 21,000 businesses, while more than 116,000 businesses had benefited from training, advisory and mentorship programmes.

He added that the state had trained 30,000 young people and facilitated the placement of nearly 15,000 in jobs, while businesses supported through the fund had created more than 300,000 jobs.

Hamzat promised to introduce a system under which students in vocational and technical schools would undertake six to 12 months of workplace training, with the state bearing 40 per cent of their stipends.

He also pledged to provide free skills certification for artisans and link public support for businesses to evidence of employment generation.

On transportation, he said the state would increase its public bus fleet from 1,000 to 4,000 buses, with a target of carrying one million passengers daily.

He also promised to extend the Blue Line rail to Okokomaiko, connect the Blue and Red lines through an interchange at the National Theatre Station and work with the Federal Government to advance the Green Line from Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

The manifesto also includes plans to activate the Fourth Mainland Bridge through partnerships, accelerate the Regional Road along the Lekki-Epe axis and commence the second phase of the Opebi-Mende-Link Bridge.

On water transportation, Hamzat pledged to dredge an additional 140 kilometres of water corridors, optimise 15 ferry routes, refurbish 25 terminals and jetties and procure 75 additional electric vessels under the Omi Eko project.

He said the proposed administration would also integrate road, rail and water transportation through a unified ticketing and timetable system.

On housing, he promised to complete ongoing housing projects across the state, deepen the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme and introduce more affordable mortgage arrangements, including a 10 per cent deposit and single-digit interest rates.

Hamzat also pledged to strengthen the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency and extend its presence to all wards across the state’s 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.
He said his administration would expand street lighting and CCTV coverage, establish a State Intelligence Fusion Centre and improve the welfare, training and equipment of neighbourhood safety officers.

On water supply and waste management, the deputy governor promised to complete the Adiyan Phase Two water project, which has a capacity of 70 million gallons daily, and rehabilitate 24 micro and mini waterworks.

He also pledged to increase waste collection coverage to 95 per cent, complete the transfer loading stations at Olusosun and Solous III, and deliver a waste recovery facility and the waste-to-energy project at Agbowa.

On inclusion, Hamzat said his proposed administration would ensure that everyone living in Lagos, irrespective of their state of origin, language, religion, age or physical ability, had access to opportunities and public services.

He also outlined plans to expand digital access hubs, strengthen Yaba’s technology ecosystem and create more opportunities for young people to participate in public service through internships, volunteering and leadership programmes.

To ensure accountability, Hamzat said he would establish a Lagos State Service Delivery Office within his first 100 days in office, with himself as chairman, to monitor the implementation of the manifesto.

He also promised to introduce a Child Protection and Nutrition Agency through his first bill to the Lagos State House of Assembly, while advancing the establishment of a State Wealth Fund with an independent board and published accounts.

He said every government office would display a service charter specifying the services available, expected standards and responsible officers.

“Every complaint will be acknowledged within 48 hours, answered within seven days and resolved within 30,” he said.

Hamzat further promised to organise town hall meetings across the five IBILE divisions and establish an independent Performance Council to review government delivery and report to residents.

He said an annual performance report would publish the commitments achieved, outstanding targets, reasons for any delays and revised timelines.

Explaining the philosophy behind the manifesto, Hamzat said a promise was a responsibility that must be fulfilled, noting that the document was designed to enable Lagos residents to monitor his performance if elected.

“A promise is a debt. In Yoruba, we say, ‘Gbese ni Ileri.’ A promise has weight,” he said.

He appealed to Lagos residents to scrutinise the manifesto and hold him accountable for its implementation, saying his ambition was to build on the foundations laid by previous administrations.

Hamzat also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu, former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, and Governor Sanwo-Olu, describing their contributions as a foundation his proposed administration would seek to sustain and improve.

He urged party members and residents to support the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming elections, saying his ambition was to make Lagos safer, fairer, cleaner and easier to live in.