Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate for the 2027 elections, has unveiled his development agenda for the state.
The agenda featured 100 pledges.
Hamzat unveiled the manifesto tagged The Lagos Promise (Ileri Eko) at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.
He said the agenda was designed to make Lagos safer, cleaner, fairer and more liveable.
The manifesto contains seven pillars, 31 chapters and 100 pledges.
It comprises 87 commitments and 13 aspirations which, Hamzat said, would guide his administration if elected governor.
He said the manifesto was built around seven pillars with acronym P.R.O.M.I.S.E – People First, Renewal, Opportunity, Machinery of Government, Inclusion, Security and Resilience, and Everyday Dignity.
According to him, the commitments are designed to address the everyday needs of Lagos residents such as healthcare, education, transport, housing, employment and security.
“A promise is a debt. In Yoruba, we say ‘Gbese ni Ileri’. A promise has weight,” Hamzat said.
Hamzat said the manifesto was anchored on the principles of respect, work and truth, stressing that the government must demonstrate measurable commitment to the people.
He said: “That is why this document is detailed. Every page of it is checkable. A serious promise answers three questions: Who is it for? Will it be fulfilled? How can I trust it?”
On healthcare, Hamzat promised to increase maternal and child Centres from 10 to 15 and expand access to the state’s Ilera Eko health insurance scheme.
He said nearly two million Lagos residents currently carried the Ilera Eko card, promising to increase the insurance coverage to one in every three Lagos residents.
He promised to give highest consideration to the poorest households.
He also promised to deliver the new Massey Children’s Hospital with 150 bed spaces, and complete the Ojo General Hospital project, which would provide 280 beds spaces.
According to him, construction is underway at Somolu General Hospital, a 150-bed facility.
“Our PROMISE is that we will deliver two new general hospitals at Ogombo and Ibeju Lekki, expand the capacity of the existing general hospitals, and upgrade 100 primary healthcare centres to flagship status,” he said.
Hamzat also promised to recruit more doctors, nurses and midwives while improving the working conditions of healthcare professionals.
On education and human capital developmnt, the APC candidate promised to strengthen the EKOEXCEL programme, currently operating in 1,028 public primary schools, to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
He said, if elected, his administration would ensure that every child would acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
The governorship candidate said that the administration would expand access to educational opportunities.
He also promised to strengthen teacher development, noting that more than 33,000 teachers had been trained by the state government in the last seven years.
“We will continue that investment, strengthen teacher development and ensure that better teaching translates into better learning outcomes for our children.
“We will review your compensation package so your pay matches the work we demand from you and the contribution you make to the future of Lagos.”
He said that the state would also pursue plans for a university of medicine and health sciences to train more healthcare professionals and strengthen the health sector.
Hamzat pledged to ensure that every child in Lagos would remain in school, adding that the administration would provide opportunities for children with sporting talents to develop their abilities.
On employment, businesses and economic development, Hamzat promised to remove bureaucratic barriers confronting businesses, expand access to credit, and improve vocational and technical training.
He said the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund had provided more than N15 billion to over 21,000 businesses since its establishment.
According to him, more than 116,000 businesses have benefitted from training, advisory and mentorship services, while 30,000 young residents have received training, and nearly 15,000 placed in employment.
He added that businesses supported by the fund had created more than 300,000 jobs, with one in every four doubling its turnover within a year.
Hamzat promised to introduce a unified schedule of lawful charges to ensure transparency and reduce multiple levies on businesses.
“We will publish one schedule of lawful charges so that everyone knows exactly what is due.
“A defined share of state procurement will go to Lagos small businesses that meet the standard. We will match talent with opportunities.”
He also promised that students in vocational and technical schools would undergo six to 12 months of practical training with employers, with the state paying 40 per cent of their stipends.
The governorship candidate said artisans and other skilled workers would receive free certification at their workplaces, while government contractors would be required to provide evidence of employment generated through public contracts.
He further pledged to equip young people with skills in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, robotics and Internet of Things.
On youth development and technology, Hamzat said that three in every four Lagos residents were below 35 years, promising to expand opportunities for young people in governance, technology and entrepreneurship.
He pledged to create opportunities for volunteering, internships and professional development, while ensuring that young professionals could lead government agencies based on merit.
He also promised to expand the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy and strengthen the technology ecosystem in Yaba.
According to him, the state has established 91 digital access hubs offering digital training and public Wi-Fi across its five divisions.
Hamzat said: “We will grow that network. We will strengthen Yaba’s technology ecosystem and carry its opportunity across the whole state.”
He identified cheaper broadband, improved security and an enabling environment as three major requirements for technology businesses to thrive.
