Hamzat Unveils 100-Point ‘Lagos Promise’ Manifesto, Pledges Better Quality of Life for Residents

By Lateepha Eniola, Assistant Editor

Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Lagos State Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate, unveiled a 100-point manifesto today, Friday, urging voters to hold him to his promises should he win the 2027 election.

He unveiled his laudable plans for the state at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (National Theatre), Iganmu, before Lagosians who filled the expansive hall to capacity.

One of the supporters of Dr Hamzat at the event in Lagos…TODAY

Presenting the manifesto—titled The Lagos Promise—at the Centre, Hamzat described the document as a social contract with the people of the state.

He pledged sweeping interventions in healthcare, education, infrastructure, economic development, security, and social welfare, focusing heavily on uplifting the quality of life for ordinary residents.

He also unfolded a seven-point manifesto, which he described as “The Lagos Promise (Ileri Eko),” vowing to implement the promises with the utmost fear of God.

The seven pillars under the acronym P.R.O.M.I.S.E are People First; Renewal; Opportunity; Machinery of Government; Inclusion; Security and Resilience; and Everyday Dignity.

Rather than presenting conventional campaign promises, Hamzat described the manifesto as a set of measurable commitments designed to give Lagosians clear benchmarks to evaluate his performance.

“Seven letters, seven pillars, one word you can hold me to,” he declared.

He urged residents to scrutinise the document, insisting that his proposed administration would be judged by its ability to translate the promises into tangible results.

Among the major healthcare commitments is a plan to increase the number of maternal and child centres in the state from 10 to 15 and expand enrolment in the Ilera Eko health insurance scheme from its current level of nearly two million to one in every three Lagos residents, with priority for low-income households.

He also promised to deliver the new 150-bed Massey Children’s Hospital and a 280-bed general hospital, complete the ongoing 150-bed Shomolu General Hospital, and establish two additional general hospitals at Ogombo and Ibeju-Lekki.

According to him, the projects would provide an additional 580 hospital beds, alongside the upgrading of 100 primary healthcare centres to flagship status.

Hamzat further pledged to recruit more doctors, nurses, and midwives while improving the working conditions of healthcare professionals.

On education, the APC candidate promised to strengthen public schools and improve learning outcomes, particularly in reading, comprehension, and reasoning.

He said the EKO-EXCEL programme was already operating in 1,028 public primary schools, while the EKO-LEARNERS initiative provided 320 lessons through online platforms and television to enable pupils to continue learning outside the classroom.

He promised to expand both initiatives and ensure that children acquired the necessary foundational skills before entering primary education.

The former commissioner also highlighted the establishment of Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu, and Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin, saying the state now had three public universities.

He disclosed that plans were underway for a University of Medicine and Health Services to increase the capacity to train healthcare professionals.

For teachers, he promised continuous professional development and a review of their compensation packages to reflect their responsibilities, noting that more than 33,000 teachers had been trained in the past seven years.

On economic development and job creation, Hamzat identified small businesses, artisans, traders, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs as critical drivers of Lagos’ economy.

He promised to simplify government charges, reduce the burden of business permits, improve access to credit, and align vocational training with the actual needs of employers.

Citing the performance of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, he said more than ₦15 billion had been disbursed to over 21,000 businesses, while more than 116,000 businesses had benefited from training, advisory, and mentorship support.

He added that 30,000 young people had been trained, nearly 15,000 placed in employment, and businesses supported by the fund had generated more than 300,000 jobs.

Hamzat pledged to introduce a single published schedule of local government charges, allocate a defined proportion of state procurement to qualified small businesses, and establish a one-stop system to simplify business registration and permit processes.

He also promised six to 12 months of workplace placements for vocational and technical trainees, with the state bearing 40 per cent of their stipends.

Artisans and other workers with existing practical skills, he said, would be able to obtain free certification at their workplaces.

Beyond economic and social infrastructure, Hamzat said his administration would place children and vulnerable residents at the centre of its policies.

Recalling the rescue of a 10-year-old boy found sleeping under a bridge in Oshodi after running away from home because he felt unsafe, he said the experience reinforced the need for stronger protection systems involving schools, healthcare facilities, social welfare agencies, security institutions, and communities.

“If you are a child and you live in Lagos, then you are a child of Lagos. Wherever your parents were born, whatever language you speak, and whatever faith your family practises, Lagos will know your name, Lagos will work for you, Lagos will protect you,” he said.

He was accompanied by his running mate, Damilola Sonayon-James; his wife, Oluremi; the party chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi; his campaign manager, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; and other party chieftains.

Also at the venue were his boss, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his wife, Dr. Ibijoke; Governance Advisory Council (GAC) members led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi; former Finance Minister Olawale Edun; Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa; his Trade and Investment counterpart, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; traditional rulers; Arch. Abdul-Waheed Adewale Adetona; captains of industry; religious leaders; women’s associations; artisans and peasants; and members of the City Boy Movement.

In his moving and emotional speech, Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said his deputy was not only loyal but very trustworthy and highly committed.

Sanwo-Olu said the state’s governance was anchored on continuity, saying, “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ran the first leg. When he passed the baton in 2007, he passed it to Babatunde Raji Fashola, who had been running beside him as his Chief of Staff. When Fashola passed it in 2015, he passed it to Akinwunmi Ambode, who had run beside three governors as a civil servant and as the Accountant-General of this state.

“When the baton came to me in 2019, I had been running since 2003: a commissioner under Asiwaju, a commissioner under Fashola, the head of a quasi-government agency under Ambode. I did not come to Alausa to learn where the offices were.

“And Femi Hamzat? Commissioner under Asiwaju. Commissioner under Fashola. Deputy Governor beside me for seven years. No deputy governor in the history of this state has ever been handed the baton. Lagosians have never before been offered a man who ran this long, this close, beside the governor he hopes to succeed.

“Lagos does not hand the baton to a man standing still. And look at what he did while he ran!”

Earlier, the state chairman of the APC, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, said Lagos could not afford to reverse its development trajectory, stressing the need for continuity, innovation, and purposeful leadership.

Ojelabi described the manifesto as a covenant between the party, its candidate, and the electorate, insisting that its credibility would depend on realistic commitments, measurable targets, and effective implementation.

Harping on the state’s development trajectory from the administration of President Bola Tinubu as governor through those of Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, and incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, he said successive APC administrations had established a foundation that the next government must consolidate.

“Our position is clear: Lagos must move forward, not backward. Continuity must not mean complacency; it must mean building on proven achievements, correcting identified shortcomings, and pursuing greater progress with renewed determination,” he said.

Ojelabi expressed confidence in Hamzat’s understanding of government, citing his experience in the private sector and public service, including his tenure as deputy governor.

He, however, acknowledged that the challenges of a rapidly expanding megacity required fresh ideas, improved service delivery, and innovative responses.

Speaking on behalf of the party’s Governance Advisory Council (GAC), former Deputy Governor Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan also called for continuity in governance, urging the next administration to preserve successful policies while correcting identified shortcomings.

Sosan said Lagos’ development was the product of deliberate planning and purposeful leadership, warning against abandoning programmes that had delivered results.

“You cannot build a strong state by abandoning everything that has worked; you must preserve the good, correct the areas that need improvement, and continue to make progress,” she said.

She identified infrastructure, transportation, education, healthcare, security, employment, housing, and environmental sanitation as critical areas requiring sustained attention.
Sosan also stressed that the development of Lagos required collective responsibility, urging residents, businesses, and government institutions to work together.

In his address, the Tinubu/Hamzat Campaign Director-General, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said the APC has resolved that Lagos should continue to move forward, not backward.

His words: “Today’s event represents more than the presentation of a manifesto; it reaffirms our shared commitment to inclusive governance, sustainable development, and a future in which every Lagosian has the opportunity to contribute to, and benefit from, the growth and prosperity of our state.

“We believe that Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat brings valuable experience and dedication to the task of consolidating the achievements of successive APC administrations and advancing the development of Lagos State.

“With your continued support and active participation,” Senator Obanikoro said, “we can sustain the progress already made, address emerging challenges, and create greater opportunities for our people. As we move forward, we welcome your ideas, advice, and constructive feedback on the manifesto.

“This campaign,” he added, “is a collective endeavour, and through continued engagement and collaboration, we can work towards a Lagos that is prosperous, secure, inclusive, and rich in opportunities for all.”