2027 Lagos Governorship: Hamzat Lists Child Welfare, Transport, Inclusion Among Agenda Priorities

…Promises Residents More Accountable Government

Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has unveiled child welfare, transport, inclusion, business environment amongst other agenda and promised to give Lagos residents a clear way to monitor his administration’s performance if elected governor in 2027.

Pics L-R: Moderator, Lagos State Gubernatorial Town Hall Meeting, Tosin Sonny and Lagos State Deputy Governor/All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Candidate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat during the Town Hall Meeting organised by the Platform Nigeria, tagged “Millennium and Gen Z Meet Their Lagos State Gubernatorial Candidates,” on Thursday. 

Hamzat said this would be done through a 100 specific commitments tagged “HAMZAT Compact”, which, according to him, would spell out what his administration plans to do, where the projects or programmes would take place, how much they would cost and who would be responsible for delivering them.

The governorship candidate made the disclosure on Thursday at a gubernatorial town hall meeting organised by Platform Nigeria, tagged “Millennium and Gen Z Meet Their Lagos State Gubernatorial Candidates.”

Explaining the idea behind the compact, Hamzat said it was intended to make government promises measurable and open to public scrutiny.

“‘Hamzat Compact’ is actually a statement that allows you to know what will be done, where it will be done, what it will cost, and who is responsible. I put my name there because I know it’s me who will be responsible.”

He said the commitments, contained in his manifesto, “The Promise: Building a State That Lasts,” would cover areas that directly affect residents, including child welfare, healthcare, education, transportation and the business environment.

Focus on Children

One of the major promises highlighted by Hamzat is the establishment of a dedicated Child Welfare Administration Agency within his first 100 days in office, if elected.

He said the agency would be responsible for ensuring that every child below the age of 18 is either in school or undergoing vocational training.

Hamzat also raised concerns about childhood malnutrition, particularly among children between zero and five years, saying proper nutrition during the early years was important to their development.

He said the proposed agency would therefore be part of efforts to ensure that children in Lagos receive the care, education and opportunities needed to develop.

“This proposed agency would be part of measures to ensure that children receive the necessary care and opportunities to develop because the destiny of our children must be important to us,” he said.

Less time spent on the road

For many Lagos residents who spend long hours commuting, Hamzat said improving mobility would also be a major priority of his proposed administration.

He promised to work towards reducing the amount of time residents spend travelling from their homes to their workplaces and places of business.

According to him, the success of transportation policies should not only be measured by the number of roads or projects delivered, but also by how much easier and faster residents can move around the state.

He said his broader vision was to build systems that improve people’s everyday experiences rather than simply focus on individual projects.

Plan to tackle multiple charges on businesses

Hamzat also promised measures aimed at making it easier and cheaper to operate businesses in Lagos.

He proposed the establishment of a State Economic Council to coordinate government charges and address what he described as multiple and unauthorised levies imposed on businesses.

He said businesses should have a clear understanding of what they are expected to pay, while unnecessary charges should be removed to create a more predictable business environment.

The APC candidate also said his administration would support small and medium-sized businesses by helping operators develop skills in areas such as bookkeeping and staff management, which he identified as challenges that can affect the survival of small businesses.

‘Nobody should ask whether you belong’

On inclusion, Hamzat promised a government in which residents would not be discriminated against based on where they come from.

He noted that Lagos had continued to attract people from different parts of Nigeria and other countries, adding that many had contributed to the development of the state.

“People come all the way from Lebanon. They are not Nigerians. They come from India, and they are doing well here,” he said.

According to him, anyone who lives peacefully, works lawfully and does not pose a threat to others should be able to enjoy their rights in Lagos.

Hamzat said the underlying idea behind his proposed administration was to build systems that could continue to work beyond individual office holders.

He described institutionalising such processes as important to ensuring that residents can monitor government commitments and demand explanations when promises are not delivered.