- Nigeria Can Attain World Power Status Through Lagos – Sanwo-Olu
- …Reiterated the demand for the establishment of state police
- …Pointed to Lagos’ record of pioneering reforms in tax administration
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has renewed the call for Lagos State to be granted a special status, arguing that the move would serve as a national leverage to unlock Nigeria’s full potential, Eko Hot Blog reports
Speaking at the inaugural Distinguished Lecture Series of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu also reiterated the demand for the establishment of state police, saying it would empower governors to increase personnel to meet security needs.
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Delivering a lecture on the theme “Lagos and Nigeria 2030: Projections of a World Power”, the Governor described Lagos as the “beating heart of Nigeria,” stressing that the state’s role in commerce, infrastructure and innovation positions it as the pivot for national competitiveness.
Sanwo-Olu listed landmark projects such as the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Dangote Refinery, Eko Atlantic City, the Coastal Road, Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail, the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge and Lekki International Airport as proof of Lagos’ central role in driving Nigeria’s economy.
“What we are saying is that Nigeria can scale up its growth and development by approaching and treating Lagos as a pivotal leverage that can help unleash collective national potential,” he said.
The Governor pointed to Lagos’ record of pioneering reforms in tax administration, security funding, traffic management, emergency response and local governance, noting that the state had consistently demonstrated leadership at the subnational level.
He also highlighted agricultural initiatives such as the Imota Rice Mill, Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Park, and the ₦500 billion “Produce for Lagos” programme, describing them as models for national food security.
Sanwo-Olu said Nigeria remained on course to achieve President Bola Tinubu’s target of a trillion-dollar economy by 2030, adding that the youth-driven creativity of Lagos would be central to the nation’s global competitiveness in arts, culture, sports, and technology.
At the event, the Governor was conferred with a fellowship of the NIIA. He also pledged to endow a Foreign Policy School at the institute within 12 months.
Earlier, NIIA Director-General, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, said Lagos must anchor Nigeria’s development in an evolving world, while chairperson of the event, Dr. Dere Awosika, described Lagos as the most secure state in the federation.
The lecture was attended by dignitaries including the wife of the governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Kazeem Alogba; traditional rulers, government officials, academics and industry leaders.
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