Lagos Deputy Governor urges South-West governors to boost regional integration

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has called on governors in Nigeria's South-West region to deepen their collaboration and harmonize development plans, asserting that enhanced regional integration can spur economic growth without the need for constitutional amendments.

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I’m going to talk to you about how we can come together as a Yoruba people, as a Yoruba to develop together. So that we build rail from Lagos to Ekiti.

Hamzat made these remarks at a lecture honoring Afenifere leader Chief Reuben Fasoranti. He envisioned a future where interconnected infrastructure, such as a Lagos-to-Ekiti rail line, would facilitate easier movement and economic activity across the region. "So if I want to live in Ekiti, I can want to have a farm in Ekiti and I don’t want to sleep in Ekiti. I can take a train and get back to Lagos," he stated, illustrating the potential benefits of such integration.

He stressed the importance of coordinated planning and budgeting among the states, suggesting that committees of commissioners for budget and planning should work together. Hamzat also highlighted the value of existing regional institutions, like the South West Development Commission and DAWN (Development Agenda for Western Nigeria), in driving this agenda. "Fortunately, our president has done well. We have the South West Development Commission, we have DAWN. DAWN is doing extremely well," he noted.

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But you cannot plan development without budget. Therefore, any committee of commissioners for budget and planning in Southwest, they must help us to plan these things.

Agriculture was presented as a prime example of potential regional synergy. Hamzat pointed out that Lagos, despite lacking sufficient land for rice production, possesses the country's largest rice mill. He proposed that states like Ekiti, Ogun, and Ondo, with ample arable land, could supply the necessary produce, creating a mutually beneficial economic loop. "Lagos cannot produce enough rice, for example, that we need. But we have the largest rice mill in the country. So Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo can supply the rice because the land is there. So that’s the way to do it," he explained.

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Fortunately, our president has done well. We have the South West Development Commission, we have DAWN. DAWN is doing extremely well.

Ultimately, Hamzat argued that this level of integration is achievable through dialogue and strategic planning among the governors and their teams, without requiring any constitutional overhauls. He believes such collaboration is key to fulfilling the aspirations of past regional leaders and strengthening the Yoruba people's collective development.

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Lagos cannot produce enough rice, for example, that we need. But we have the largest rice mill in the country. So Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo can supply the rice because the land is there. So that’s the way to do it.