Hamzat: Lagos must break free from Alausa-centred governance
Lagos must decentralise government services and establish mini-secretariats across its five divisions so residents can access most public services without travelling to Alausa, Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has said.
Hamzat said the move would bring government closer to the people while allowing each division—Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, Ikeja and Lagos Island—to develop according to its economic strengths.
Lagos State Deputy Governor and APC Governorship Candidate, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.
Etim Ekpimah
Lagos must decentralise government services and establish mini-secretariats across its five divisions so residents can access most public services without travelling to Alausa, Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has said.
Hamzat said the move would bring government closer to the people while allowing each division—Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, Ikeja and Lagos Island—to develop according to its economic strengths.
He spoke on Thursday during an interview on IKD 106.1 FM’s KOH Unscripted in Ikorodu, where he outlined his vision of a more connected and economically integrated Lagos.
“We must decentralise Lagos. Alausa should not be the only place where people can access government services,” Hamzat said.
He proposed mini-secretariats in Ikorodu, Badagry and Epe, saying about 80 per cent of services required by residents could be handled within their respective divisions, while more complex matters could be referred to Alausa.
The deputy governor said the approach would also enable the government to tap into the distinctive economic potential of the state’s five divisions.
For Ikorodu, he identified agriculture, food processing and transportation as areas with significant growth potential, while promising infrastructure to support emerging institutions and economic activities across the state.
Hamzat also called for a reorganisation of local government administration, saying the process should cover both physical structures and financial systems.
He said stronger systems were needed to improve accountability, plug leakages and expose problems such as ghost workers.
The APC candidate also argued that Lagos could not be planned in isolation from its neighbouring states because of the movement of people and the shared use of infrastructure.
He cited Orile Agege General Hospital as an example, noting that many patients treated there come from outside Lagos.
Such realities, he said, should influence planning for healthcare, transport, water supply and other public infrastructure.
On transportation, Hamzat proposed major interchanges linking buses, rail and ferries to make movement across Lagos easier, particularly for residents of outlying communities.
He said Lagos, with its extensive waterways, must make greater use of water transport alongside roads and rail to create an integrated transport network.
The deputy governor also disclosed that 77 electric buses, including 30- and 40-seater models, were being introduced into the state’s transport system.
According to him, electric buses would reduce dependence on diesel and petrol, lower operating costs and potentially make public transport more affordable for commuters.
He said the proposed transport network would connect strategic routes and terminals, including Ikorodu, Badore, Victoria Island and Marina, while expanded rail and water services would give commuters more options.
Hamzat said healthcare infrastructure must also expand alongside Lagos’ rapidly growing population.
He identified Ikorodu General Hospital and other major hospitals for expansion, stressing that the upgrade should include accommodation for doctors, nurses and other medical personnel.
He said hospitals could not provide quality care if health workers were left without adequate working and living conditions.
On water supply, Hamzat acknowledged the challenges facing Lagos, including the state’s dependence on water sources in neighbouring Ogun State.
He said cooperation and appropriate compensation would be required, adding that the completion of the Adiyan Waterworks project and associated pipelines would substantially increase water production and extend supply to more residents.
Hamzat also urged Lagos residents to see themselves as partners in the state’s development rather than leaving every responsibility to government.
“Individuals and organisations in developed countries contribute to education and other areas of development,” he said. “We, as citizens of this great nation, must see ourselves as partners in building a better society.”
The deputy governor said his vision was to create a Lagos where government, infrastructure and economic opportunities were not concentrated in one part of the state but spread across its divisions.
The statement was issued by Tunde Alao, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor (Media), Office of the Lagos State Deputy Governor.
