Sanwo-Olu Pledges to Sustain Lagos’ Developmental Pace

Segun James

Basking on the euphoria of praise on the developmental strides of his government, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed confidence that the pace would continue in 2025
Sanwo-Olu who said this at the 2025 Annual Thanksgiving Service of the Lagos State government with the theme, ‘Harvest of Thanksgiving,’ held at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, also expressed confidence that the country’s global perception was shifting from negative to positive.

This, he attributed to the country’s recent economic reforms and initiatives by President Bola Tinubu.
The Governor acknowledged the challenges faced by the nation and the State in 2024, but emphasised the necessity of tough economic decisions.

He noted, “In 2024, we faced tough and difficult, but necessary, decisions. Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we tackled long overdue economic reforms to lay the foundation for the country of our dreams.”
While recognising that the reforms had led to short-term hardships for many Nigerians, the governor remained optimistic, stating that the pain would soon give way to long-term benefits.

“We are already seeing the emerging shoots of the positive outcomes of these reforms. The harvest that awaits us as Nigerians, following our many sacrifices and perseverance, will be a very gratifying one,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu pointed to the country’s growing public revenues and improving macroeconomic stability as signs of progress.

He also highlighted the positive impact of these changes on job creation, investments, and social welfare, noting that the new national minimum wage was now being paid, with Lagos going beyond the minimum.
The governor also touched on the nation’s economic performance in 2024, citing the Nigerian stock market’s impressive performance, with the All-Share Index closing the year above the 100,000-mark.

He also celebrated Lagos’ infrastructure milestones, including the inauguration of the first phase of the Red Line and progress on the Blue Line project, along with the advancement of large-scale initiatives such as the food and logistics park and a new children’s hospital, both among the largest in Africa.

Furthermore, Sanwo-Olu noted the significant influx of Nigerians from the diaspora, particularly in Lagos, which he described as a glimpse into the immense cultural and economic potential of the country.
“We have seen an exciting glimpse of the huge economic and cultural potential that lies in the enthusiastic homecoming of our people from around the world,” he said, urging efforts to tap into this potential in the years to come.

The governor also commended private sector achievements, including the start of petrol production at the Dangote Refinery and the groundbreaking of the 12,000-seat Lagos Arena, which promises to redefine Nigeria’s arts and entertainment sector.
He further expressed confidence that Nigeria’s future, powered by these reforms, would be bright, with the country’s global image continuing to improve in the coming years.