Lagos testament to African possibility, Sanwo-Olu tells global audience
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described Lagos as a living testament to African possibility, saying the state has grown into one of the most economically consequential urban centres on
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described Lagos as a living testament to African possibility, saying the state has grown into one of the most economically consequential urban centres on the continent despite occupying a small portion of Nigeria’s landmass.
Sanwo-Olu spoke at the closing ceremony of Africa Week 2026, organised by King’s College London at the African Leadership Centre, United Kingdom, where he delivered a lecture titled “Exercising Agency beyond the Nation-State: Debating Change and Transformation in the Global City, Lagos.”
The governor said Lagos, now regarded as Africa’s second-largest city economy with a GDP estimated at about $259 billion on a purchasing power parity basis, remained Nigeria’s commercial gateway and a major destination for capital, enterprise, talent and innovation.
He noted that Lagos had demonstrated how a sub-national government could shape not only local outcomes but also influence regional and global conversations on development.
Sanwo-Olu said the theme of the event was timely, noting that discussions about power and development had for too long been centred only on national governments, whereas cities were increasingly becoming drivers of economic growth and innovation.
According to him, Lagos has emerged as the anchor of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem and one of the fastest-growing technology hubs in the world, with over 2,000 startups and several unicorns in fintech and digital commerce.
“My conviction since assuming office in 2019 has been that Lagos must be governed not as a problem to be managed but as a platform to be unlocked. That is the spirit behind our THEMES+ agenda, which focuses on transport, health, education, environment, security, social inclusion and economic growth,” he said.
The governor said his administration had prioritised the development of a multimodal transport system, noting that passenger operations had commenced on the Blue Line rail while the Red Line had been inaugurated as a second intra-city rail corridor.
He added that investments in roads, bridges, bus reforms and water transportation were part of a broader mobility architecture aimed at improving productivity and quality of life in the state.
Sanwo-Olu said his government had also focused on infrastructure and social development, including the delivery of over 3,000 housing units, deployment of additional security patrol vehicles, procurement of fire trucks to strengthen emergency response, and investments in education and food systems.
He said the state’s ₦4.44 trillion 2026 budget reflected the administration’s commitment to sustained investment in infrastructure, social services and economic competitiveness.
The governor also highlighted the role of the creative economy in Lagos, noting that industries such as music, film, fashion and digital content had become major contributors to job creation, global visibility and economic growth.
He stressed the need for African cities to address climate change as a central development issue, noting that Lagos had launched a Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan and continued to invest in clean mobility, drainage, waste management and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Sanwo-Olu said strong cities were essential to strong nations, adding that collaboration among governments, private sector, investors, development partners and academic institutions remained key to building sustainable urban centres.
“Urban productivity is not a threat to national development; it is one of its clearest foundations. The work before us is to build cities that can carry the weight of the future and create opportunities for the next generation,” he said.
