*Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Lagos State, at the 7th Yearly Lecture of Freedom Online Newspaper, asserts Lagos remains the proof of good governance and ‘technology capital of Africa’, urging Nigerians to focus narratives about 2027 Elections on strengthening the emerging Nigeria Digital Economy, practical security measures, and long-term future for the West African country
Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect
Nigerian leaders have lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s interventions in key sectors of the Nigerian economy and implications on the citizenry.
Such interventions, they noted, have gone addressed directly the poverty that feeds insecurity, and straight at the demographic with the most to gain or to lose for young Nigerians.
According to them, Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations on earth.
ConsumerConnect reports Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Lagos State, who said this in his address Thursday, September 3, 2026, at a forum, in Ikeja, the state capital.
Sanwo-Olu spoke as the Special Guest Speaker at the 7th Yearly Lecture of Freedom Online Newspaper, published by Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo, Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of Swaaya Limited.
The governor’s presentation also addressed the theme of the lecture: “2027 Elections: Economy, Security and Nigeria’s Future”.
Expressing support for President Tinubu’s reforms when addressing issues in the economy, he asserted that “Lagos is the proof” of good governance in Nigeria.
He stated that every business that opens in this cosmopolitan city is a vote of confidence in the safety of the state
Sanwo-Olu also noted in his address: “We did not attract the Lekki Deep Sea Port, or build the Blue and Red Rail Lines, or draw the investment that has made Lagos the technology capital of Africa, by accident.
“We did it because, first, people had to believe that Lagos was safe enough to bet on.
“That is the nexus. I have not read about it. I have lived it for seven years.”
Describing Lagos as the technology capital of Africa’, Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that President Tinubu’s several interventions have gone straight at the poverty that feeds insecurity, and straight at the demographic – young people.
According to him, Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations on earth.
He equally emphasised that is either the greatest dividend in the country’s history, or the greatest danger to it, depending entirely on what the leadership does in the next 10 years.
On some Federal Government’s intervention programmes, initiatives
Referencing one of the key interventions of the current Federal administration, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted how the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is now keeping students, who would otherwise have dropped out, in schools across Nigeria.
He also referenced the Consumer Credit Corporation (CreditCorp) that is building the credit culture without which no modern economy functions.
Highlighting yet another intervention of high impact by President Tinubu’s administration, Sanwo-Olu said the ongoing 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme is training “the workforce of a digital economy” for Nigeria’s future.
He equally mentioned the recently unveiled reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which is turning a year of National Service into a year of enterprise for young and agile Nigerians.
In ensuring an effective implementation of these interventions, the Lagos Governor, who is serving his second and final term in office, said behind such youth-oriented empowerment programmes and initiatives stand the Nigerian Youth Academy, the Nigeria Health Fellowship, the Student Venture Capital Grant, the Power Force programme and the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme of the Federal Government.
Sanwo-Olu declared: “It is hard to name an administration that has invested in young Nigerians on this scale.”
2027 Elections and focus on economy, security and Nigeria’s future
Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, in a address Thursday, urged Nigerians to approach the fast approaching 2027 General Elections with a focus on the economy, security and the long-term future of the West African country.
Appreciating the uninterrupted electoral cycle since 1999 as an important democratic achievement for the country, he emphasised that the three issues are closely connected in advancing the sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian economy.
The governor as well noted the economic debate ahead of the elections should move beyond mere political slogans, particularly on the removal of the topical petrol subsidy issue dominating public discourse in recent weeks.
He urged all political parties and candidates, including his own (All Progressives Congress, APC), to respect the electoral process.
He averred: “No office in this land is worth the life of a single Nigerian, and no victory won by the wrong means is a victory at all.”
Fuel subsidy removal blues and growth indicators in economy
Defending the core rationale for President Tinubu’s discontinuation of the controversial subsidy regime May 29, 2023, Governor averred that the subsidy was removed because it had become “a major drain on government finances”.
He, however, acknowledged that the policy decision has imposed significant hardship on Nigerian consumers in the last few years.
He declared: “Lagosians have felt it at the pump, at the market, and in the price of a bag of rice, and any governor who tells you otherwise has not been listening to his own people.”
The Lagos Governor yet exuded optimism and said that recent economic indicators suggested the economic reforms were beginning to produce results.
Sanwo-Olu particularly the Second Quarter (Q2) 2026 growth figures published by the National Bureau of Statistics recently.
The report indicated that the Nigerian economy grew by 4.43 percent, compared with 3.89 percent in the First Quarter of this year.
The governor, in his address, also mentioned increased substantial growth of Nigeria’s external reserves, lower inflation, improved credit ratings, a trade surplus, and stronger formal remittance inflows as evidence of improving economic conditions in the country.
He stated: “These are not my numbers. They belong to the National Bureau of Statistics and the Central Bank of Nigeria, and every journalist in this hall can check them.”
Addressing security issues across Nigeria
Governor Sanwo-Olu acknowledged that insecurity could affect the 2027 General Elections in practical ways.
Such ways, he stated, include candidates’ ability to campaign, the movement of electoral officials and materials, and voter turnout in affected communities.
He, therefore, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to begin preparations early for potential threats to a safe and secure electoral process.
As regards measures the Tinubu administration has taken in addressing security threats, Governor Sanwo-Olu also praised measures taken by the Tinubu administration to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
Accordung to him, including the expansion of the Nigerian Army (NA), the creation of four new security Commands and the deployment of Forest Guards and Mining Marshals, to tackling illegal mining of the country’s mineral deposits.
The governor expressed Lagos State Government’s support for the proposed introduction of state policing in view of of his state’s experience with community-based security initiatives.
Underscored the importance of adequate security in building sustainable digital economy, Sanwo-Olu said security works best when communities could see and hold accountable those responsible for providing it.
He asserted: “Security works best when the people who pay for it and the people who depend on it can see, and hold to account, the people who provide it.”
Again, Sanwo-Olu pointedly linked insecurity to economic conditions, noting that poverty could fuel insecurity while insecurity could undermine economic activity in Nigeria.
He explained: “When a farmer cannot go to his farm, the nation gets hungrier.
“When a school is not safe, the country gets another cohort of children who never learned to read.”
Looking beyond the 2027 General Elections into Nigeria’s future, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Nigeria should pursue the goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
The Lagos Governor expressed confidence, that the country could achieve the target if reforms were sustained and properly implemented.
The governor noted that he expected the governing APC to win the 2027 Elections, and President Tinubu to secure a second term, arguing that unfinished reforms would be costly to abandon in the economy.
Sanwo-Olu as well challenged the media to play a more rigorous role during the election season.
He tasked reporters to fact-check claims from all political camps for authentic, credible information for Nigerians.
The Lagos Governor fitter cautioned against misinformation, stating that anonymous social media accounts and doctored videos could become particularly dangerous during the campaign.
He, nonetheless, said: “I am not asking for a compliant press.
“A compliant press is of no use to a democracy; it flatters the powerful and abandons the public. I am asking for a rigorous press.”
Sanwo-Olu, therefore, urged the Federal Government, state governments, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the media to play their respective roles in ensuring that the 2027 General Elections strengthen Nigeria’s democratic journey into a prosperous future.