Lagos Governor slams unfair burdens, seeks Federal collaboration

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called for enhanced collaboration between state governments and federal agencies to address operational frictions and leverage regional strengths.

Speaking through Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Hamzat on Thursday at Lagos House, Ikeja, during a visit by participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47, 2025, from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Sanwo-Olu emphasized the need for cooperative frameworks to resolve challenges affecting harmonious state-federal relations.

Sanwo-Olu urged the NIPSS participants to include in their reports recommendations for resolving disputes, such as federal agencies approving activities like sand-filling Lagos waterways, which he described as unfair burdens on states.

“Most nations, like Germany or the Netherlands, ensure ports manage surrounding infrastructure within a 20-kilometer radius, but here, states bear those costs,” he said.

He highlighted Lagos’ unique burden of solely funding rail infrastructure, unlike sub-sovereigns like London or New York, which share costs with central governments.

The governor encouraged the institute to engage federal agencies directly to incorporate their perspectives and develop balanced solutions.

He stressed that such collaboration is vital for states to capitalize on comparative advantages and for Nigeria to design effective institutional frameworks.

The NIPSS delegation, led by Director-General Professor Ayo Omotayo, visited Lagos as part of their study tour focused on the 2025 SEC theme, “Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities.” Omotayo noted Lagos’ critical role in the blue economy, stating,

“The President would consider us failures if we didn’t visit Lagos, given its significance to this year’s theme.”

He praised the state’s support during the visit and requested recognition for officials facilitating the tour.

The SEC 47 participants, tasked with addressing national policy challenges, are expected to produce reports that could shape state-federal relations and support Nigeria’s sustainable development goals.