Why Hamzat Wants Mini Secretariats In Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe

Kehinde Adeleye

Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, has proposed a major shift in how residents access government services if he becomes governor in 2027.

The central idea is simple: residents should not have to travel to Alausa for services that can be provided closer to where they live.

Hamzat wants Lagos to decentralise government operations by establishing mini secretariats in some of the state’s divisions, beginning with places such as Ikorodu, Badagry and Epe.

But what would this mean for an average Lagos resident?

Less travelling to Alausa

Hamzat’s proposal is that about 80 per cent of government services needed by residents should be available within their respective divisions.

For example, instead of a resident of Ikorodu travelling all the way to Alausa to resolve a matter that can be handled locally, the service could be provided through a mini secretariat in Ikorodu.

Only matters that require higher level attention would then be transferred to Alausa.

“We must decentralise Lagos. Alausa should not be the only place where people can access government services,” Hamzat said during an appearance on IKD106.1 FM’s “KOH Unscripted in Ikorodu.”

Why the 5 divisions matter

Hamzat’s proposal is also based on the idea that the different parts of Lagos have different economic strengths.

The 5 divisions are Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe, collectively known as IBILE.

Rather than treating every part of Lagos in exactly the same way, Hamzat said government should identify what each division can contribute to the state’s economy and build infrastructure around those opportunities.

For Ikorodu, he identified agriculture, food processing and transportation as areas with strong potential.

The plan, therefore, goes beyond moving government offices. It is also about giving each division a stronger economic role.

What happens to transportation?

Hamzat’s plan also includes connecting different parts of Lagos through an integrated transportation system involving buses, rail and waterways.

He proposed transport interchanges connecting areas such as Ikorodu, Badore, Victoria Island and Marina.

He also said 77 electric buses, including 30 and 40 seater models, are being introduced into the state’s transport system.

The argument is that electric buses can reduce the cost of operating public transportation because they do not depend on diesel or petrol in the same way conventional buses do.

If operating costs fall, Hamzat said, there could eventually be room for more affordable fares.

What about healthcare?

The same decentralisation idea applies to healthcare.

Hamzat said the growing population of Lagos means health infrastructure must also expand beyond the traditional concentration of major services.

He proposed expanding the Ikorodu General Hospital and other major hospitals, while also providing accommodation for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.

His argument is that government services should grow alongside the population in each division rather than forcing residents to depend on facilities in central Lagos.

How does water fit into the plan?

Water supply is another area Hamzat identified as requiring a broader approach.

Lagos depends partly on water sources located in neighbouring Ogun State, meaning cooperation between the 2 states is important.

Hamzat said completing the Adiyan water project and associated pipeline infrastructure would increase Lagos’ water supply capacity and extend access to millions of residents.

What happens at the local government level?

Hamzat also wants local government administration to be reorganised.

He said the physical and financial structures of local governments need to be strengthened to improve accountability, reduce leakages and address issues such as ghost workers.

In other words, decentralising Lagos would not only mean creating more government offices outside Alausa. It would also require stronger administrative structures closer to residents.

Why Hamzat says Lagos cannot plan in isolation

Another important part of his argument is that Lagos is no longer a city that can be planned strictly within its state boundaries.

Millions of people who live outside Lagos depend on the state’s hospitals, roads, markets, transport system and other infrastructure.

Hamzat cited Orile Agege General Hospital, saying a significant number of its patients come from outside Lagos.

His point is that Lagos’ planning must take into account the movement of people between the state and neighbouring communities.

The political context

Hamzat’s proposals were unveiled during the APC campaign visit to Ikorodu ahead of the 2027 elections.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led the campaign train, which included APC Lagos State Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi and KOH Campaign Team Director General Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

The team was received at the palace of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, where traditional rulers, community leaders and APC supporters expressed support for the party.

Hamzat also urged voters to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re election and defended continuity in Lagos, saying the state was too important to be subjected to what he described as political experimentation.

“Lagos is too vital a state to be experimented with,” he said.

For Hamzat, therefore, the 2027 governorship contest is not only about who occupies Alausa. His proposal is that government itself should be spread across Lagos, with residents able to access more services closer to home while each division develops around its own economic strengths.