Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has unveiled an ambitious 100-point development agenda, promising sweeping reforms in healthcare, education, employment, technology and infrastructure.
Hamzat presented the manifesto, titled The Lagos Promise (Ileri Eko), on Friday at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos, outlining his vision for a safer, cleaner, fairer and more liveable state.
The document is structured around seven pillars, 31 chapters and 100 pledges, comprising 87 specific commitments and 13 aspirations.
The seven pillars, captured by the acronym PROMISE, represent People First, Renewal, Opportunity, Machinery of Government, Inclusion, Security and Resilience, and Everyday Dignity.
Speaking at the unveiling, Hamzat described the manifesto as a social contract with Lagos residents, insisting that its promises would be measurable and open to public scrutiny.
“A promise is a debt. In Yoruba, we say ‘Gbese ni Ileri’. A promise has weight,” he said.
He explained that the document was designed to establish clear responsibilities and accountability, adding that every commitment should answer three fundamental questions: who it benefits, whether it can be delivered and how the people can trust its implementation.
On healthcare, the APC candidate pledged to increase the number of maternal and child health centres from 10 to 15 and expand enrolment in the state’s Ilera Eko health insurance scheme from nearly two million residents to one in every three Lagosians.
He promised to prioritise vulnerable households in the expansion of health insurance coverage.
Hamzat also pledged to deliver the new 150-bed Massey Children’s Hospital, complete the 280-bed Ojo General Hospital and advance construction of the 150-bed Somolu General Hospital.
He further promised to build two additional general hospitals at Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki, expand existing facilities and upgrade 100 primary healthcare centres to flagship status.
The governorship hopeful also promised to recruit more doctors, nurses and midwives while improving the welfare and working conditions of healthcare professionals.
In education, Hamzat pledged to strengthen the EKOEXCEL programme, which currently operates in 1,028 public primary schools, with a focus on improving literacy, numeracy and overall learning outcomes.
He said his administration would deepen investment in teacher development, building on the training of more than 33,000 teachers over the past seven years.
He also promised to review teachers’ compensation packages to reflect their responsibilities and contributions to the state’s education system.
The APC candidate disclosed plans to pursue the establishment of a university of medicine and health sciences to expand the training of medical professionals.
He added that his administration would work towards ensuring that every child remained in school while providing opportunities for young people with sporting talents to develop their abilities.
On employment and economic development, Hamzat promised to dismantle bureaucratic obstacles confronting businesses, improve access to credit and expand vocational and technical training.
He cited the achievements of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, which he said had disbursed more than N15 billion to over 21,000 businesses since its establishment.
According to him, more than 116,000 businesses had benefited from training, advisory and mentorship services, while 30,000 young people had received training and nearly 15,000 secured employment.
He added that businesses supported by the fund had generated more than 300,000 jobs, with one in four doubling its turnover within a year.
To address the burden of multiple levies on businesses, Hamzat promised to introduce a unified schedule of lawful government charges, ensuring that businesses could clearly identify their statutory obligations.
He also pledged to reserve a defined proportion of state government procurement for qualified Lagos-based small businesses.
Under his proposed vocational development programme, students in technical and vocational institutions would undertake six to 12 months of practical training with employers, with the state government covering 40 per cent of their stipends.
Artisans and skilled workers would also receive free workplace-based certification, while contractors executing government projects would be required to provide evidence of employment created through their contracts.
Hamzat further promised to equip young Lagosians with emerging technology skills, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, robotics and the Internet of Things.
On youth empowerment, he noted that three out of every four Lagos residents were below the age of 35, pledging to expand their participation in governance, entrepreneurship and the technology sector.
He promised to create more opportunities for internships, volunteering and professional development, while ensuring that qualified young professionals could occupy leadership positions in government agencies based on merit.
He also pledged to expand the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy and strengthen the technology ecosystem in Yaba.
Hamzat disclosed that Lagos had established 91 digital access hubs providing digital training and public Wi-Fi across its five divisions, promising to expand the network to reach more communities.
He identified affordable broadband, improved security and a supportive business environment as critical to the growth of technology enterprises in the state.
The deputy governor said the proposed development agenda was ultimately aimed at improving the everyday lives of residents and creating broader opportunities across Lagos if elected governor in 2027.