Why I participated in Lagos governorship debate – Hamzat

Lagos deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat

Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, has explained that he participated in the Lagos Governorship Debate to present his vision for the state and explain how he intends to improve residents’ lives.

Hamzat said the debate provided an opportunity to communicate his development agenda and outline practical steps to address the needs of Lagosians.

In a post shared on his X handle on late Sunday night, the APC candidate said leadership required understanding the needs of the people and developing policies to address them.

“I took part in the Lagos State Governorship Debate and used the opportunity to share my vision for Lagos and speak about the practical steps we intend to take to improve the lives of our people,” he said.

He added, “Leadership is about understanding what matters to people and making sure our plans respond to those needs.”

He identified healthcare as a major priority, promising to expand the state’s health insurance scheme, Ilera Eko, from its current 1.4 million enrollees to cover one in every three Lagos residents.

Hamzat also pledged to complete the Massey Children’s Hospital, Ojo and Somolu General Hospitals, while expanding capacity across the state’s nine general hospitals.

According to him, more primary healthcare centres would operate round the clock, alongside improved training and welfare for health workers.

On housing, Hamzat said his administration would introduce a more accessible mortgage system to enable more families to own homes by spreading payments over several years.

“Beyond completing our ongoing housing estates, we will introduce a more accessible mortgage system that allows people to spread their payments over several years,” he said.

On transportation, he promised to sustain the state’s rail development projects, including extending the Blue Line to Okokomaiko and connecting the Red Line to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts at the National Theatre.

Hamzat said the proposals were aimed at improving access to essential services, expanding homeownership opportunities and easing transportation challenges for residents.

He also outlined seven pillars of his proposed development agenda, tagged The Lagos PROMISE, with each letter representing a key governance priority.

“They are People First, Renewal, Opportunity, Machinery of Government, Inclusion, Security and Resilience, and Everyday Dignity,” he said.

According to him, the pillars would guide his administration’s approach to governance, infrastructure development and the creation of opportunities for residents.

“I remain committed to listening to Lagosians, building on the progress we have made and delivering a future that works for all,” he added.

The APC candidate participated in the Lagos Governorship Debate on Sunday, organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, a coalition comprising The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable and Vanguard.