Lagos Pushes for Sister City Deal with Atlanta in Global Investment Drive

Lagos Pushes for Sister City Deal with Atlanta in Global Investment Drive
Seeks partnership with Georgia in infrastructure, healthcare, technology, creative industries
Praised the Georgia African Legislative Caucus for its role in connecting diaspora voices

Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu of Lagos State has called for deeper economic and developmental ties between Lagos and the US State of Georgia, urging both governments to formalize a sister city partnership between Atlanta and Lagos, Eko Hot Blog reports.

Contents

EDITOR’S PICK
FURTHER READING

Speaking at the US Nigeria Policy and Trade Forum, held alongside FNITCC AFRICON 2025 at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, the Governor outlined a compelling case for mutual cooperation in infrastructure, education, healthcare, creative industries, and technology.

EDITOR’S PICK

“Lagos is open for investment and long-term partnerships that will outlive our administration,” Sanwo Olu said. “When Lagos and Atlanta rise together, Nigeria and the United States prosper together.”

The event drew top lawmakers from Georgia, members of the Georgia African Legislative Caucus, business leaders, and members of the Nigerian diaspora, underscoring the growing interest in Nigeria’s commercial capital as a strategic investment hub.

Sanwo Olu emphasized the need to create deliberate frameworks that link Lagos and Atlanta, positioning the cities as twin engines of growth across Africa and the American South.

“Atlanta is a logistics and technology hub, just as Lagos is the gateway to West Africa,” he noted. “Both cities thrive at the intersection of trade, innovation, and culture.”

Highlighting areas of alignment, the Governor said Georgia’s strengths in agribusiness, logistics, film, and tech align seamlessly with Lagos’ development priorities.

He praised the Georgia African Legislative Caucus for its role in connecting diaspora voices to policymaking and expressed Lagos’ interest in working on legislation to deepen subnational relations.

Lagos Pushes for Sister City Deal with Atlanta in Global Investment Drive

“Our diaspora is our greatest export,” he said. “Nigerians in Georgia entrepreneurs, academics, and professionals are bridges of trust and innovation.”

Sanwo Olu painted a bullish picture of Lagos’ investment landscape. In 2024 alone, Lagos attracted $5.95 billion in foreign capital, representing over two-thirds of Nigeria’s total inflows.

In the first quarter of 2025, the state drew another $2.56 billion despite global economic headwinds.

He revealed that Lagos is pioneering green finance, becoming Africa’s first subnational poised to issue a Green Bond to fund sustainable infrastructure. The state is also investing heavily in clean energy, electric mobility, and climate resilience.

Key infrastructure projects were also highlighted, including:

The Lagos Rail Mass Transit system (Blue, Red, and upcoming Green Lines)

The Lekki Deep Seaport

The planned Lagos International Financial Centre

He positioned Lagos as Africa’s tech capital, home to over 2,500 startups, including unicorns such as Flutterwave and Andela.

“By 2030, Lagos is projected to be the ninth-largest city economy globally, with over 30 million residents and one of the continent’s most dynamic consumer markets,” he said.

Sanwo Olu stressed that these ambitious initiatives are backed by partnerships with international institutions, including Afreximbank and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), unlocking billions in capital for transformative projects.

He closed his remarks with a strong appeal to the diaspora and investors alike: “We invite you to not only invest in Nigeria but to mentor, connect, and build with us. Lagos is not just Africa’s economic heart, it is its future.”