Sanwo-Olu: Governing Lagos with Purpose and Intentionality

Sanwo-Olu: Governing Lagos with Purpose and Intentionality

By Oluwaseyi Adedotun

Behind the rapidly evolving and increasingly admired Lagos State is a governor whose approach to leadership is defined by purpose, planning and precision. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has consistently demonstrated an intentional style of governance that leaves little to chance, deliberately aligning vision, policy and institutions to drive sustainable development.

Upon assuming office, Sanwo-Olu inherited a vast megacity with enormous potential and equally complex challenges. Rather than adopting a piecemeal or reactive approach, his administration embraced a philosophy of integrated governance—one that treats Lagos as a living system where policies are interconnected and mutually reinforcing.

From inception, the Sanwo-Olu administration recognised that governing Lagos allows no learning curve. The demands of the state required immediate problem-solving, visible leadership and long-term strategic thinking. This understanding has shaped a governance model that combines hands-on execution with forward-looking planning, ensuring that reforms are durable and impactful beyond electoral cycles.

Central to this approach is the administration’s development blueprint, the THEMES Agenda—Transportation and Traffic Management, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st-Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism, and Security and Governance. The agenda was later expanded to THEMES+ to embed social inclusion, gender equity and youth empowerment into the state’s development framework.

Through this structure, Lagos is governed as an integrated ecosystem where infrastructure supports commerce, education fuels enterprise, culture drives tourism, health protects productivity, housing promotes dignity and governance ensures sustainability.

Transportation remains a defining example of this intentional governance. The state has transitioned from reactive traffic management to a multimodal transport system that integrates rail, road and waterways. The Lagos Blue Line, running from Marina to Mile 2, and the Red Line, connecting Ebute Metta to Badagry, have transported millions of commuters, significantly reducing travel time, easing congestion and opening up new economic corridors.

Plans for the Green Line and the Fourth Mainland Bridge further underscore the administration’s strategic intent to reshape Lagos’ economic geography, reduce logistics costs and integrate mainland communities with commercial hubs.

Road infrastructure has also been deliberately designed to complement rail investments. Projects such as the Opebi–Odo Iyaláro–Ojota Link Road and Bridge (popularly known as the Opebi–Mende Link Road) have created critical connections between residential and commercial districts, unlocking new economic activity. Similar road and bridge projects across Alimosho, Ifako-Ijaiye, Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Ebute Metta, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja and Agege further demonstrate a coordinated transport strategy aimed at productivity and inclusive growth.

In healthcare, the administration has pursued a similarly integrated approach. The revitalisation of key health facilities, including the historic Massey Street Children’s Hospital, reflects a deliberate focus on safeguarding vulnerable populations while strengthening the state’s human capital. Combined with the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme (Ilera Eko) and the upgrade of general hospitals, these interventions are building a resilient health system that supports economic growth by protecting livelihoods and reducing catastrophic health spending.

Education reforms under Sanwo-Olu have been intentionally geared toward economic empowerment. The reintroduction of the Comprehensive Secondary School model and the expansion of technical and vocational education through the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board underscore a shift toward skills-based learning. By producing graduates equipped with industry-relevant competencies, the state is strengthening its MSME, manufacturing, technology and creative sectors.

Arts, culture and entertainment have also been positioned as core economic drivers. Lagos’ recognition by Artsy as one of six global art destinations for 2026 is the outcome of deliberate policies that treat culture as economic infrastructure. Festivals such as Adamu Orisa (Eyo), the Door of Return and other cultural initiatives have revitalised cultural institutions, promoted tourism, created jobs and reinforced Lagos’ global cultural identity.

With platforms like ART X Lagos, the Lagos Biennial and the Àkéte Collection and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Lagos is set to take its place on the global art itinerary alongside cities such as Venice, Sydney and Doha.

In agriculture and food security, the Produce for Lagos partnership with Niger State exemplifies regional economic planning. Backed by a ₦500 billion agro-investment window, the initiative is designed to ensure food availability, affordability and security while empowering farmers across state lines and creating jobs along the value chain.

Housing delivery has also been treated as both social and economic infrastructure. With over 12,000 housing units delivered, the administration has linked shelter to productivity by reducing commuting stress, stabilising communities and promoting inclusive growth through integrated estate planning.

Security, under Sanwo-Olu, is pursued as an economic enabler. Through intelligence-driven strategies, institutional coordination and the support of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, the state has strengthened public safety and confidence. Notably, Lagos has recorded only one bank robbery incident in the past seven years, reflecting deliberate and proactive security governance.

Social inclusion remains a cornerstone of the administration’s agenda. Programmes such as EkoCares, alongside skills acquisition and enterprise development initiatives, have strengthened the MSME ecosystem, particularly for women and youth. Between 2024 and 2025 alone, over 5,300 beneficiaries completed training across 211 skills acquisition centres, with more than 30,000 Lagosians trained in the last six years.

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s leadership is marked by visibility, adaptability and service. His administration measures success by improved living conditions, resilience and expanded opportunities for residents. With Lagos’ GDP estimated at US$259.75 billion (PPP), the state now ranks among Africa’s largest urban economies, earning national and international commendation for its infrastructure and reform agenda.

Ultimately, what defines Sanwo-Olu’s Lagos is intentional governance—policies designed not as isolated actions but as instruments of transformation, integration and sustainable growth, positioning Lagos as a globally competitive and inclusive megacity.