Hamzat clarifies ‘Lagos traffic as lifestyle’ comment amid backlash

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has defended his description of traffic congestion in the state as a “lifestyle”, saying the remark was taken out of context and misinterpreted on social media.

Hamzat made the clarification in a video shared on Sunday via the X account of the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Media, Wale Ajetunmobi, following criticism of his remarks at Podfest Naija 2026.

The deputy governor explained that he made the comment while delivering a speech on storytelling and the creative industry, using Lagos traffic to illustrate how commuters consume podcasts and other digital content during their journeys.

Reading excerpts from his speech, Hamzat said he had described Lagos as “the city that tells its own story” and noted that traffic had become part of the daily experience of many residents.

He quoted himself as saying, “Anyone who has crossed Third Mainland Bridge at 6pm going from VI to Mainland knows that Lagos traffic is not just a problem, it is becoming our lifestyle.”

Hamzat said the remarks were intended to illustrate the relationship between traffic, commuters and content consumption, rather than make a statement on road design or the government’s position on congestion.

Defending his comments, he questioned how his remarks had been linked to criticisms of the state’s handling of traffic, particularly comments by a tech entrepreneur, Tayo Oviosu, and former governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

He read Oviosu’s comment that “Lagos traffic is caused by poor road design, not economic activities,” as well as Rhodes-Vivour’s statement that “traffic in Lagos should not be tolerated as a lifestyle” and was “a major drain on productivity.”

Reacting to the connection made between the comments, Hamzat said, “That’s what I said. Now, how people correlate that to say design is incredible. Really incredible.”

He further criticised the interpretation of statements on social media, saying, “So it seems to me that when people go on social media, they don’t read what people say. And that’s the problem.”

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Hamzat said he decided to publicly explain his remarks so that people could understand the context in which they were made.

Meanwhile, the Director of the New Media Directorate for the joint PBAT-KOH Lagos State Campaign Council, Olusesan Daini, also defended Hamzat, saying the deputy governor’s remarks had been deliberately taken out of context.

In a statement posted on his X account on Sunday, Daini said Hamzat’s comments were not a celebration of traffic congestion or an indication that the state government was comfortable with the inconvenience experienced by residents.

He said the deputy governor was explaining how traffic had shaped the daily routines of Lagos residents and influenced how they consumed information and conducted business.

“Recognising that traffic has become part of daily life is not the same as accepting it as the ideal. It is simply acknowledging the realities of a rapidly growing megacity while working continuously to improve mobility,” Daini said.

Daini also cited the government’s transport initiatives, including rail and water transportation, road construction, junction improvements, intelligent traffic management systems and the deployment of LASTMA personnel.

“Those seeking to portray the Deputy Governor’s comments as insensitive have relied on an isolated phrase instead of the substance of his remarks. Public discourse is best served when statements are presented in their full context rather than through selective excerpts,” he stated.

PUNCH had earlier reported that Hamzat described Lagos traffic as a lifestyle while speaking at Podfest Naija 2026, where he discussed storytelling and how commuters consume podcasts and other creative content during their journeys.

The remarks generated reactions on social media, with some users criticising the description of traffic as a lifestyle and others questioning the state government’s approach to congestion.