Lagos Residents at Heart of Governorship Debate as Hamzat Unveils Plans on Healthcare, Housing, Transport

APC candidate promises wider health insurance coverage, affordable mortgages and expansion of rail services

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Lagos residents’ concerns over access to affordable healthcare, decent housing and efficient transportation took centre stage at the Lagos Governorship Debate on Sunday, as All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, outlined proposals to address some of the state’s most pressing challenges.

Hamzat, who participated in the debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, said his decision to take part was driven by the need to present his vision for Lagos and explain how his proposed administration would improve the lives of residents.

In the debate monitored by Echonews on Sunday, the APC candidate said the debate offered an opportunity to communicate his development agenda and demonstrate how his policies would respond to the everyday needs of Lagosians.

“I took part in the Lagos State Governorship Debate and used the opportunity to share my vision for Lagos and speak about the practical steps we intend to take to improve the lives of our people,” he said.

He added that leadership required an understanding of people’s needs and the development of policies capable of addressing them.

Among the issues he highlighted was access to affordable healthcare, with a pledge to expand the state’s Ilera Eko health insurance scheme from its current 1.4 million enrollees to cover one in every three Lagos residents.

The APC candidate also promised to complete the Massey Children’s Hospital, Ojo and Somolu General Hospitals, while expanding the capacity of the state’s nine general hospitals.

He further proposed that more primary healthcare centres should operate round the clock, supported by improved training and welfare packages for healthcare workers.

On housing, Hamzat acknowledged the importance of making homeownership more accessible to families through a mortgage system that would allow prospective homeowners to spread payments over several years.

He said his proposed administration would complete ongoing housing estates while introducing financing arrangements that would reduce the immediate financial burden on residents seeking to own homes.

Transportation, another major concern for Lagos residents, also featured prominently in his proposals.

Hamzat pledged to sustain the state’s rail development programme, including the proposed extension of the Blue Line to Okokomaiko and the connection of the Red Line to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts at the National Theatre.

He said the proposed extensions would improve connectivity, ease commuting difficulties and expand access to economic opportunities across the state.

Hamzat also presented seven pillars of his proposed development agenda, tagged The Lagos PROMISE, comprising People First, Renewal, Opportunity, Machinery of Government, Inclusion, Security and Resilience, and Everyday Dignity.

According to him, the pillars would provide the framework for governance, infrastructure development, social inclusion and economic opportunities.

He reiterated his commitment to listening to residents, building on existing achievements and pursuing policies that would make life better for Lagosians.

The debate was organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, a coalition comprising The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable and Vanguard.

Hamzat’s presentation placed healthcare affordability, housing access and transportation infrastructure among the major issues against which his proposed leadership would be assessed by Lagos voters.