Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has described the city’s notorious traffic congestion as more than a challenge, saying it has become part of the lifestyle and identity of Lagos.
Hamzat spoke on Saturday at Podfest Naija, a gathering of storytellers and creatives, where he reflected on how the city’s traffic, crowds and everyday chaos have influenced its creative culture.
According to him, traffic has even become an unlikely patron of the podcast industry, with commuters consuming episodes while travelling across the city.
“Anyone who has crossed Third Mainland Bridge at 6pm knows that Lagos traffic is not the problem, it is just a lifestyle,” Hamzat said.
He added that many podcasts are consumed by Lagosians during their daily journeys between different parts of the city.
“So in a way, traffic has been a patron of your industry. So you must celebrate traffic. That’s why we are Lagos,” he said.
Hamzat said the city’s distinctive character has also inspired generations of artists, writers and filmmakers.
He noted that while Lagos was previously portrayed largely by outsiders, its growing creative community is now telling the city’s story from within.
“Lagos is now telling its own story and the people telling it in a very serious way are in this room,” he said, listing podcasters, filmmakers, musicians, writers, designers, developers and entrepreneurs among those shaping the city’s global image.
‘Creatives Must Turn Ideas Into Businesses’
The deputy governor also urged creatives to build sustainable business models, arguing that a large audience alone does not guarantee commercial success.
“A podcast with a million listeners and no business model is just a hobby with good microphone,” he said.
Hamzat said the Lagos government was supporting the creative and innovation ecosystem by funding ideas and research, rather than merely celebrating them.
“So we’re funding ideas, not just applauding them. Lagos is supporting nothing less than 90 research and development projects,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of security and liberty to the creative sector, arguing that people create more freely when they feel safe.
According to Hamzat, Lagos is currently the safest state in Nigeria, although he acknowledged the significant cost of maintaining security.
“Creativity flourishes best when people feel safe,” he said.
“For us in Lagos, safety and liberty guarantees remain a matter of right.”
Hamzat, who is the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for the 2027 Lagos State election, also called for greater attention to cultural identity.
He said Nigerians, particularly Africans, must reconnect with their culture if the country is to achieve sustainable prosperity.
“One of the challenges for us as Africans, as black people, is that we have forgotten our culture,” he said.
“The truth is, we will not prosper — it’s not a curse — if we don’t deal with our culture.”