Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has pledged to establish mini-secretariats across the state’s divisions as part of plans to decentralise government services and accelerate economic development across Lagos.
Hamzat, spoke on Thursday during an interview on IKD 106.1 FM, titled “KOH Unscripted in Ikorodu,” stressing that his administration would pursue a more interconnected Lagos where residents could access essential government services closer to their communities.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor (Media), Office of the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Tunde Alao, Hamzat said governance must be deliberately decentralised across the five divisions of the state; Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, Ikeja and Lagos Island.
He said residents should not be compelled to travel to Alausa for services that could conveniently be provided within their respective divisions.
“We must decentralise Lagos. Alausa should not be the only place where people can access government services. We should have mini-secretariats in Ikorodu, Badagry, and Epe, so that perhaps 80 per cent of the services people need can be resolved within their divisions, while matters requiring further attention can be escalated to Alausa,” Hamzat said.
The APC candidate also said the economic potential of each division would be deliberately harnessed as part of his development strategy.
According to him, Ikorodu, for instance, has significant opportunities in agriculture, food processing and transportation, while other divisions also possess distinctive economic advantages that government must support with appropriate infrastructure.
He said the administration would develop infrastructure around emerging institutions and economic activities while ensuring that development was not concentrated in a few parts of the state.
Hamzat also advocated the reorganisation of local government administration, saying the process should address both physical and financial structures.
He said effective systems would be
required to strengthen accountability, eliminate leakages and identify administrative challenges, including ghost workers.
On transportation, Hamzat outlined plans for major interchanges that would integrate buses, rail and ferry services to improve connectivity between the hinterlands and major economic centres.
He said Lagos, being a city blessed with extensive waterways, must maximise water transportation alongside road and rail infrastructure to create an integrated transport system.
The governorship candidate disclosed that 77 electric buses, including 30- and 40-seater models, were being introduced into the state’s transport system.
He said the adoption of electric vehicles would reduce operating costs associated with diesel and petrol and could ultimately contribute to more affordable transportation for commuters.
Hamzat proposed a transport network linking strategic routes and terminals, including Ikorodu, Badore, Victoria Island and Marina, while the expansion of rail and water transportation would provide residents with more options for daily commuting.
He also stressed the need to plan Lagos as a borderless metropolitan city, noting that residents of neighbouring states rely significantly on the state’s infrastructure and public services.
Citing the Orile Agege General Hospital, Hamzat said a significant proportion of its patients come from outside Lagos, adding that such realities must be considered when planning healthcare, transportation, water supply and other public infrastructure.
On healthcare, he said the state’s growing population required a corresponding expansion of medical facilities, including the Ikorodu General Hospital and other major hospitals.
Hamzat said such expansion should extend beyond physical infrastructure to include adequate accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health workers to ensure effective service delivery.
He also acknowledged the challenges surrounding water supply, noting that Lagos’ dependence on water sources located in neighbouring Ogun State required cooperation and appropriate compensation arrangements.
According to him, the completion of the Adiyan Water Project and associated pipeline infrastructure would significantly increase Lagos’ water supply capacity and extend access to millions of residents.
The APC candidate further called for greater citizen participation in the development of Lagos, stressing that government alone could not build every institution or solve every societal challenge.
“Individuals and organisations in developed countries contribute to education and other areas of development. So we as citizens of this great nation must see ourselves as partners in building a better society,” he said.
