Hamzat Pledges People-Centred Agenda, Vows Every Lagos Child Must Be in School

Hamzat Pledges People-Centred Agenda, Vows Every Lagos Child Must Be in School

By Our Reporter

Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has promised a people-centred agenda focused on safety, environmental reorganization, child protection, healthcare and education as his immediate priorities if elected Governor of Lagos State in 2027.

The deputy governor disclosed this on Monday during a live interview session on Journalist Hangout, a TVC Programme, tagged: “Race to 2027 Lagos Governorship Election."

Hamzat stated that his administration would begin by reorganising the state’s environment to ensure that land use, drainage and other physical infrastructure serve their intended purposes, while strengthening security measures to ensure that Lagos residents can move around and return home safely.

"After the election, if Nigerians give us their mandate, we will plan the law that says that every child in Lagos under 18 must be protected. It will be a child welfare administration, and that means you cannot have a child that is under 18 years old without education or skills acquisition. Not in Lagos anymore. Every child in Lagos must be in school. That child must be in training. Humanity is too important for us to be wasted," he said.

Hamzat vowed to train one million Lagosians in digital and technology-related skills, saying the initiative would equip young people with the knowledge required to compete for jobs and opportunities in the global digital economy.

Thia was as the deputy governor, while noting that Lagos already has a strong reputation as Nigeria’s technology and startup hub, added that the state must deliberately develop a large pool of skilled young people capable of taking advantage of opportunities in the global digital economy.

“In the next four years, if Lagosians are kind enough to give us their mandate, we will train one million people. I’m so passionate about technology training because I know that is the skill," he said.

Hamzat said his administration would place strong emphasis on human capital development, particularly in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain technology, database design and other digital skills.

He explained that the digital economy had reduced geographical barriers to employment, allowing skilled professionals living in Lagos to work for companies and clients worldwide without relocating.

The deputy governor disclosed that technology training hubs were already being established in 71 locations across Lagos, offering courses in blockchain technology, cybersecurity, AI chatbots, and database design, with some programmes requiring three to six months of training and certification.

Hamzat said Lagos should also position itself to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence professionals, noting that the state had the capacity to produce thousands of skilled workers for the emerging global industry.

On security, he said his administration would continue to deepen the use of technology and intelligence-driven systems to protect lives and property across Lagos, saying that the state had already deployed smart cameras and command centres to monitor incidents and support the rapid deployment of security and emergency-response agencies.

Hamzat said the technology-driven approach had enabled relevant agencies to assess incidents remotely and determine the appropriate response before personnel arrive at the scene, adding that the state would continue to expand and strengthen the system to improve security management across Lagos.

He also pledged to further expand Lagos’ integrated transportation system, particularly the use of waterways and rail, to ease movement across the state and reduce pressure on the road network.

According to him, plans include the introduction of 77 electric ferries on the waterways, the development of Oworonshoki as a major water transport hub and the expansion of rail connectivity, stressing that the ultimate objective was to enable residents to live farther from their workplaces while still being able to move around the state efficiently.

Hamzat added that his administration would deepen the atate’s waste management system by expanding the use of waste as a resource, including converting waste to energy. 

He said the ongoing development of transfer loading stations would reduce pressure on existing landfill sites, while improved waste collection and transfer systems would support the state’s broader plan to recover value from thousands of tonnes of waste generated daily.

While highlighting the state of flooding in the state, the deputy governor promised to strengthen Lagos’ drainage infrastructure and improve the state’s capacity to manage heavy rainfall and rising water levels. 

He assured that the administration would continue clearing and expanding drainage channels, deploy technology to monitor underground drains, and review the drainage master plan more frequently to respond to the effects of climate change.

On healthcare, the deputy governor stated that increasing the capacity of Lagos’ general hospitals and strengthening maternal healthcare, including expanding maternal care centres and increasing bed spaces, would be the core responsibility of his government. 

"The objective is to improve access to treatment and reduce preventable deaths, particularly among mothers and children," he said.

Hamzat stressed the need to strengthen logistics and food distribution infrastructure to reduce the cost of moving agricultural produce from farms to consumers, adding that development of logistics hubs, storage facilities and middle-level markets would help eliminate unnecessary costs created by transportation and multiple layers of middlemen, ultimately reducing food prices for Lagos residents.

He emphasized that his administration will strengthen protection for victims of domestic violence by expanding existing shelters and safe houses and ensuring that both women and men affected by domestic violence have access to protection and support. 

Hamzat concluded that the state would continue to prosecute perpetrators while strengthening the support system for victims.