Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat outlines health, housing and transport agenda during governorship debate

Lagos Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Obafemi Hamzat addressed a televised Lagos State Governorship Debate on Sunday night, using the platform to present a detailed development agenda for the state. In a post on his X account, Hamzat said the debate allowed him to explain practical steps his administration would take to improve the lives of Lagosians, emphasizing leadership that understands and responds to citizens’ needs.

Hamzat highlighted three core sectors – health, housing and transportation – as priorities. He committed to expanding the state's Ilera Eko health insurance program from its existing base of 1.4 million participants so that approximately one-third of Lagos inhabitants would be covered. He also promised to complete the Massey Children’s Hospital in Ojo, finish works at Somolu General Hospital and increase capacity across the nine general hospitals, while ensuring primary health centres operate round the clock and improving staff training and welfare.

On housing, Hamzat said his administration would finish ongoing estate projects and introduce a more accessible mortgage system that spreads payments over several years, aiming to boost home ownership. Regarding transport, he committed to sustaining rail development, extending the Blue Line to Okokomaiko and linking the Red Line to the Wole Soyinka Centre at the National Theatre, measures intended to ease commuting challenges.

Background

Hamzat’s political profile combines his role as Lagos deputy governor with his candidacy for the 2023‑2027 governorship under the APC. His political platform is built around the 'Lagos PROMISE' framework, which stands for People First, Renewal, Opportunity, Machinery of Government, Inclusion, Security and Resilience, and Everyday Dignity, and he stated that this model would direct governance, infrastructure projects, and the generation of new opportunities. The debate was part of a broader series of public engagements ahead of the upcoming elections, allowing candidates to articulate policy positions.

Beyond the debate, Hamzat recently spoke at the Thursday Business Group's 10th Founders' Day Dinner, where he pushed for enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors and detailed a strategy to boost yearly investment from N1 trillion to N5 trillion by 2031, assist more than one million MSMEs, establish four industrial zones, and introduce a N10 billion LASMECO funding scheme. Both events reflect his emphasis on infrastructure, fiscal responsibility and private sector engagement.

Why it matters

The proposals directly affect Lagos residents, who comprise Nigeria’s largest urban population and face chronic challenges in health service coverage, affordable housing and congested transport networks. Expanding Ilera Eko could increase health security for an estimated three million additional Lagosians, while completing key hospitals aims to reduce patient overload and improve specialist care. The mortgage initiative targets the city’s growing middle class, seeking to convert renters into owners and stimulate the construction sector.

Rail extensions are poised to alleviate road traffic, potentially reducing commute times and associated economic losses. Hamzat’s broader economic targets – notably the investment growth goal and MSME support – are intended to generate jobs and diversify Lagos’s economy, aligning with his call for consistent policies, infrastructure development and transparent taxation, as expressed at the TBG event.

What happens next

Hamzat’s outlined initiatives will be subject to scrutiny as the governorship election approaches, with voters and opposition candidates likely to evaluate the feasibility and funding mechanisms of the promised expansions. The APC’s internal primaries are scheduled for early 2027, after which the party will formalise its candidate list. Should Hamzat secure the nomination, his "Lagos PROMISE" pillars will form the basis of his administration’s policy roll‑out, pending approval from the state legislature and allocation of state and federal resources.

The debate also set the stage for continued public dialogue, with Hamzat indicating a commitment to listening to Lagosians and building on existing progress. Further statements from the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Seun Osiyemi, and other officials are expected to detail implementation timelines for the rail projects and mortgage scheme.