0:00 Contenders take the stage. No campaign rallies, no political [music] slogans, just the candidates, the issues and the questions that matter. The noise are silenced, just the [music] ideas in the room. If you think it will be an easy, then think again. Representing the APC, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafi Hamzat and candidate of the ADC bad roads vivo the NDC's doati and the PDP's [music] adjour voices four perspectives one opportunity [music] to make their case to the people of Lagos who has the best ideas and greatest vision for Lagos what are their plans and how will [music] they deliver the future of Lagos is on the table
0:45 ladies and gentlemen welcome to the Lagos 2027 7 Governorship Election [music] Debate. Your moderator tonight, Channels Television's political editor and host of Politics Today and Sunday Politics, Shung Okimalui, and TVC's senior anchor and host of Beyond the Headlines, Nifi Okunto. >> Good evening, Lagos. Good evening, Nigeria, and welcome to our viewers around the globe. Every morning, Lagos wakes up to the ambition of his people. The traders, workers, entrepreneurs, students, and families striving for a better life. Tonight, their concerns take center stage. And welcome to the Lagos 2027 governorship election debate
1:32 coming to you live from the hub here in Leki Lagos. I am Shimalo >> and I am Nito. This debate is organized by the Nigeria debate consortium bringing together channels television, TVC news, the punch, Vanguard and the cable in a shared commitment to credible journalism, democratic accountability and informed electoral choices. At the heart of democracy is the right of citizens to ask questions and the responsibility of the leaders to provide answers. Tonight, we're broadcasting live across television, radio, and digital platforms worldwide with local coverage also available in Euroba language. This debate offers Legosians an opportunity to examine the candidates
2:19 policies, leadership capacity, and plans for the future. Well, tonight four candidates out of those that ING has now authorized and approved for this election will be mounting the podium. They've been selected through an impartial and transparent survey. They will be presenting their vision for Lagos State and explain how they intend to deliver on those vision. Over the next two hours, we will examine five critical issues. the economy and cost of living, transportation and infrastructure, flooding and environment, education, healthcare and governance, security, and of course accountability. We will demand specifics of what they intend to do and
3:07 what their promises will cost, how they will fund them, and how will Legosians measure their performance. >> A word now about the rules that will guide the debate tonight. All candidates have agreed to the debate guidelines. They will receive equal opportunities to speak with timed responses and follow-up questions. They have three minutes for opening remarks, 2 minutes to answer questions, one minute for rebota. We'll follow up when we find it appropriate. Now, neither the candidates nor the political parties have had prior access to our questions. We ask our audience to refrain from cheering jaring or applause during the exchanges to ensure fairness. Bash, we have made one exception tonight. >> Absolutely. >> Right now, you can clap while you can as
3:55 we introduce a candidate in alphabetical order of their party acronyms. >> And for us to climb the podium today, everyone, Lagos, welcome the candidate representing the African Democratic Congress ADC, Mr. Badible Rose Vivor Lagos Nigeria representing the All Progressives Congress APC Dr. Abafami Hamza and representing the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC is Mr. Funo Doerti.
4:45 Last but not the least representing the people's democratic party PDP is Mr. Adji Doerti. Welcome gentlemen. Tonight the candidates will have their say but ultimately the people of Lagos will have the final say. To our viewers watching online would like you to join the official hashtags # Lagos governorship debate # Lagosdeides and # Nigeria debate consortium. Absolutely. Tonight is about you the people because the office of the citizen is the highest office in the land and in the next few weeks or so about 70 or more days you
5:32 will have the opportunity to exercise that power by going into the voting booth and elect those who will govern you but for Lagos which is very critical for Nigeria holds almost 30% of the nation's economic power is a commercial nerve center of the nation who governs Lagos is very critical and tonight that's why we have the candidate right there on the stage so you can make informed decision. Ladies and gentlemen, I will implore you to please rise for the Nigerian National Anthem. Nigeria wee our own dear [music] native land. [singing] Though tribe [chanting] and tongue may differ
6:19 in brotherhood [chanting] we [music] stand. >> [singing] >> Nigerians home and proud to serve our sovereign mother. [singing and music] >> Thank you very much. I just love Nigeria. Well, ladies and gentlemen, candidates, are you ready tonight for this debate? I don't It doesn't look like we are ready for this debate. Candidates, please, are we ready for this debate? >> Yes, we are. If you're ready, ladies and gentlemen, we are ready for you. We begin with your opening statement. Each of the candidates have three minutes for their opening statement. And I will begin with the candidate of the ADC.
7:05 It's an opportunity to sell yourself to the people of Lagos State. Your manifesto and why the people of Lagos State should look in your direction. And your time starts now. >> Good evening, Lagos. Um, first and foremost, all of us are experiencing the damage that has come from bad governance and has been endemic in this state for over the last 20 years. We want a cleaner Lagos. We want a safer Lagos. We want a more affordable Lagos. I want a Lagos that works for everybody, not just the privileged few. My manifesto and my activism from when I got before I got into politics has always stood with the people and the idea that anybody wants to be the leader of 20 million people must have a track record that has shown
7:52 that they're able to put interest of the people above the interest of their own pocket or their own aspiration or career. There must be background that shows that you've taken a stand for the people. I have that track record. Aside that we are bringing urban design and big solution thinking to the problems of Lagos state because everything is interconnected from waste management and how it ties into housing from traffic and how it ties into urban development healthcare education all of these things are connected. In housing we have promised to deliver 100,000 units in the first four years. We intend to do this by creating luxury tax that funds social housing. We also intend to do this by developing the
8:39 eastern foreshore and bejilian areas decentralizing development in Lagos state connecting Lagos in 2.5 connecting the rail lines of Lagos and the oceans to the entire state in 2 and 1/2 years by delivering out the rail lines and ensuring that is a private sectordriven approach that's transparent equitable and most efficient in terms of cost for legalans. This will be open up the development of Lagos and decentralized development as we have come to see it. Currently in Lagos now you have primary schools that are being taken over by the LSDPC for projects that constantly focus on housing for the elite and we going to tackle housing. >> Don't mind the bell. You have 60 more seconds. >> Oh wow. Okay. That's very inefficient.
9:25 >> Yeah. Please go ahead. >> Um and then we're going to focus on safety. ensuring that our young men have skill acquisitions that that doiciled at the ward so that we can get rid of this agro crisis that's come endemic in Lagos state and legosians can feel safer. We're also going to work to ensure that flooding is no longer a problem in Los State by actually making Lagos State climate resistance and using um creating a wetland protection policy that ensures that all these wetlands have given uses so that it cannot just be sand filled haphazardly um in Lagos state and also using new technology and new designs to develop projects that can allow water still have it right of way while people can live in in good rhythm with water. So what we are not constantly fighting
10:12 water in Los State. These are some of the things that we intend to do and I hope that during the course of this conversation we be able to get to more of the ideas that we have for Los State. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Uh [bell] yeah the 3 minutes up. Um Mr. Abani Azad your time starts now. >> Good evening Legos and I must thank the organizers of this event. Thank you very much. My name is Kadri Mamzat. I take tonight as a job interview. The job is the governor of Lagos state and you the goshians will be the interviewers and the people that we actually hire. The first question you ask anybody that wants this type of responsibility. What have you done to prepare for this job? Lagos has prepared me one job at a time.
10:59 I'm eternally grateful for the confidence. Before I came into public service, I was a teacher in the college. I was a case manager in the state the city of New York where I saw citizens were left behind even in the most advanced country and I also a systems manager as the commissioner for science and technology I was responsible for building the the resident registration database of this state because a government serves better when it knows the citizens. As the commissioner for works and infrastructure, I I led the team that delivered the decading bridge, the first cable bridge in the whole of West Africa and the second in Africa. Distin quick ladies and gentlemen. What is important is who is ready to do this
11:44 job. Now I know I know the people, I know the state and I know the work. The second question that should be asked is what is the ethos of anybody that wants to do this job? My parents raised me on the respect. A state must respect it citizens. The second one is work. The sh work must come before announcement. And the third is winning truth. A government that publish the truth about itself behind it citizens. So femat knows the city, knows the people and knows the work. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen and all I'm asking for now is to carry the work forward and I'm ready. I'm ready because I have a plan. It is called the Lagos promise. Seven pillars,
12:32 seven words, 100 pledges. Now it's a is one word promise that you can hold me accountable for. P stands for people first. R stands for renewal. O stands for opportunity. M stands for machinery of government. I stands for inclusion. M stands S stands for security and resilience and E stands for editing integrity. The single negotions judge my plan like you want to hire anybody. Judge my pedigree like you want to hire anybody that will manage your family. That is our commitment. I've written my commitment down so that you can hold me accountable and anybody can see it. You can measure it. You can check it. You can track it. That is my promise. And I must tell you negians that it is important for us to understand that we
13:19 must judge the plans that everybody is presenting tonight because you must see the work that is actually behind it in Lagos. We don't want to build skyscraper in the air and because it is important for you to understand because you know Los. >> Thank you so much. Um NC candidate is your time. >> Thank you so much. Uh good evening ladies and gentlemen and I want to start off by thanking you for taking time to be here today to listen to us. Uh my name is Fun Dwati. I'm the NDC governorship candidate and together with Morani Masha, my deputy governor candidate who is here by the way. Uh we'll be seeking your mandate in 2027 to govern Lagos. We're both Legosians from
14:05 prominent Lagos families very passionate and committed to development of Lagos. Why are we running? Why are we running? We believe that Lagos is operating far below its potential. And as a result of that, you Lagosians are operating far below your potential. And your lives are getting more and more difficult. You pay your taxes, you pay endless levies, and yet you are getting less and less for it. Lagos is unusual. Lagos is unusual. It's a mini country. The budget for Lagos this year is 4.4 trillion. Last year it was 3.3 trillion. Uh the internally generated revenue of Lagos is more than the internally
14:51 generated revenue of about 31 states combined together. 31. Now about 90% or close to 90% of that internally generated revenue is taxes. Taxes taken from people like you and me. So the people are definitely playing their own part. It is the government that is failing. There's another way in which Lagos is unusual. Lagos rather uniquely has been governed under one ruling hegemony for the last 27 years dating back to the governorship of the current president. So they have had all the time in the world to fix the issues. But if you look at it today whether it's from quality of education you get quality of your healthare whether there is affordable
15:38 housing whether there is water whether there is power even in Los Island of all places surrounded by water there's no water all of these suggest that there is so much to be done so we have a vision our vision is a bold new vision to move Lagos in a new direction six themes health education and opportunity affordable able housing, jobs and small business environment um um uh honest and accountable government. These and there are 34 pillars under this and we put them out. My manifesto actually came out a month before the deputy governors. Um and we have our own commitments also set out and we ask you to hold those to account.
16:25 So um I hope we'll get more into uh the details of our manifesto. Uh but we are committed to moving Lagos in a new direction. I spent 30 years in the private sector, endless experience in leadership, leading people, managing money. I spent [bell] 30 years as a qualification to lead Legos. >> Thank you so much. Your time is up. Um Mr. Adati, PDP, it's your time now. >> Good evening, Lagos. Good evening, Lagos. Good evening, Lagos. I can feel you and I can feel you very well. First, I would like to take one minute out of my time to recognize two people here and that is the uh deputy governor of Lagos State. Uh we
17:12 show you all the respect in the world for you to stand up on this and to even be here. Secondly is Senator Muslanikuru who I was his DG when he ran in 2007. Ah well having said that who is Didati? I'm a technocrat. I'm a businessman. I'm an entrepreneur. I'm an industrialist. I'm a man that mixes with the people. I'm a man that stays with the people. I'm the man that talks to the people on a daily basis whether I like it or not. And these are the things that has brought me into politics. I joined politics. I joined the people's democratic party in 1998. And from 1998 to date, I have been in the People's Democratic Party. I'm
17:59 sure senator can answer to that and can testify to that. Um, now what are my 10 points? I have a 10-point agenda. That agenda is number one, power. Power is wealth. And Lagos State needs power. Lagos State needs wealth. On my first day, I'm going to make sure that you get some money put back into your pockets. I'm going to make sure that I give you rebates on power, especially power with 220 naira per mega per kilowatt paying per kilowatt, no industry can be successful. Ask from me. This is reality talking. I'm not talking from just talking
18:46 housing. There's no way I'm going to be able to build 150,000 houses in in 4 years. You know why? Because they all going to be expensive. I don't have any control over the materials that this that you're going to use to build these houses. I don't have any control over the price of the land itself in Lagos State. But what I have control over, I'll tell you, I can make sure that the material I am going to put a research team together that is going to bring down the cost of building a bungalow compared to a cost of building a two-bedroom, a a two a two-level house or three-level house. Education, we have 28
19:32 27 between 26 and 28 islands in this state. I remember when I was I won't go back again, but I remember when I was walking with a governorship candidate. I had to visit at least 16 of these islands. These islands do not even have primary health care [bell] and they don't have a lot of a lot of other things. Trans. >> Thank you so much, sir. Your time is up. Um so we begin on the very first pillar after listening to your opening statement and this is about the economy and the living standard conditions of the people of Lagos and the question I would like the four of you to respond to beginning again with the candidate of the ADC is that Lagos is rich but why
20:18 are so many Lagosians struggling and I'll give you a background to the question. Lagos is the richest state in Nigeria by internally generated revenue. But for the market woman in Mushin, the teacher in Ioru, the young graduate in Age and the family renting a single room in a what does that wealth actually mean? Are we building a prosperous Lagos or merely a wealthy government? What three measurable improvements will the average Lagosians household experience in your first two years as governor? Your time starts now. It's 2 minutes. >> Um the answer to your question is that the Lagos government in the last 20 over 20 years has been focused on elite
21:04 policies that only favor the elite. You look at how they do housing. LSDPC is mainly focused in highbrow areas and always at the push out of the vulnerable of our society. You see in the last election deputy governor was celebrating with Marco people telling them that a new Lagos is rising but then just last year the whole place has been demolished again pushing people out for the private sector to come in and build houses that are not affordable for over 70 to 80% of the population of Lagos state. So that is why on paper Lagos celebrates a high IGR but um on the ground people are not experiencing the benefits of coming from a state that is this rich. What we're going to do is focus on people. All our
21:52 policies are centered around the people and the the the people that are struggling in Lagos state. So you have a suation where the elites the rich can do for themselves. Government's role is to lift people up that cannot do for self. And this comes into housing. So ensuring that we deliver the 100,000 plus housing units and make it accessible so that it's transparently allocated. We're not going to have a situation where one person can then own 10 units, right? And then also it's going to be part of a larger program. A young man just came out of school, wants to live independently. We're not going to tell him to live in his parents house. We have a self-contained unit that is beautifully designed and you can stay there until you need to expand your capacity which you get married. There's a program that allows you move to a
22:38 two-bedroom place. You have three children, there's program allows you go to a three-bedroom place and there's credit that is being acquired or points that are being acquired all down this value chain so that in your 40s your 50s that credit can then be applied to a mortgage. The idea is to social engineer how people manage. So that's one aspect of it. All right, your time is up. Sorry because you keep being the first person when the time is changing. Uh it takes a bit a bit to adjust. I'll allow the three candidate quickly to respond in same manner 2 minute to the same question before we go on our first break. Uh APC candidate Dr. Hamza your time starts now. >> Thank you very much. So because Nigeria is undergoing a a corrective session financially, things are a little bit tough for our people. Long grain rice
23:25 for example is 66,000 and petrol is 1,600. That's high. But the liver that the state government can control is housing is agriculture and it transportation. That's why Lagos has a plan to build to to complete the blue line up to Kokumo and then the red line to link it up at center for creative bank which we normally call trade fair. Now it is to move people in mass and then of course we have what is called Lagos is a water state and therefore we must turn the lagoon actually into water. The idea is to build rail, road and water so that it's all connected and move people in mass in our in my in in our manifesto in the section of the newer. We said we build 3 4,000 new
24:12 buses, CNG buses. We move people on mass because Lagos has the smallest percentage of land and has 11 population of Lagos citizens and therefore it is coming for housing. Lagos has in between the last 8 years, Lagos has built 24,000 estates, 18,000 units for citizens. Our plan is to make sure that we don't buy houses the way we buy yam and rice. That is to make sure that we have mortgages 10% 10% down payment, 25 year payment and so that people can pay over time and therefore complete what is already going on. Right now we we have a housing estate phase two 700 units. We have Sedu housing estate. We have workers village in Nepaja. We have Ajara in Badagi. We have a lot of housing estate that is
24:58 ongoing. Finish it. Make sure that people can buy but not buy the way we buy rice and yam. The average African takes 17 years to build a house. So the essence is to do mortgage and with the food produces only 5% of what it consume. [bell] >> Time is up. The question is why is Magos as I said he's rich but some of his people are poor? Uh uh Mr. Dati of the NBC please your time 2 minutes. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Um so the central issue is that we have not had people centered policies um are being pursued by government. uh when I talked about our six themes and our 34 commitments there's a an underlying philosophy that on which it
25:45 all rests that philosophy is the fact that anywhere in the world the way in which societies develop and the way in which societies prosper is when individuals within that society prosper and then the collective prosperity of the individuals within that society results in the prosperity of the society. There's no society in this world that you say is a developed society where most of the people are poor. If most of the people are poor, by definition we are an underdeveloped society. So our policies are aimed at capacitating the people, giving them skills, ensuring that there is no child born in Lagos who does not get an education because their child cannot their parents cannot afford it. We have said we will make education truly free, not nominally free, truly free. So
26:32 people will not pay for exam fees. They will not be asked to come and pay taxes at the point where they have to write their exams. We have said also that we ensure that children have one affordable meal every day in those in public schools. It is important because it we must educate the children. Our population is a very young population. The median age in Nigeria is about 18, right? So we are very focused on that. We also have big plans around healthcare. The whole idea and if you look at what we're doing around jobs and small business, what we're doing around public transportation um what we're doing around affordable housing where we have a plan of 150,000 units together with a whole ecosystem around it to deliver it together with government guarantees funding etc. The
27:18 whole idea is that you enable people to prosper to have the capacity to earn to build livelihoods and as the people rise in prosperity the society prosper and your question. Thank you so much sir. The time is up. Uh the PDP candidate Mr. Di. >> Okay. Thank you very much. I think the question is um about the market to women and I will say this I can only pick three. One is debt the burden of debt in Lagos state. Two is over bloated MDAs. Three is your local government not having autonomy. These are the main three reasons why Lagos state is in a state
28:03 that it is in. The debt burden is heavy. When you are paying close to about 1920 billion in external debt, in domestic debt, in foreign debt, then you have a burden that you're carrying that is weighing you down. That's number one. Number two is when your LJs are not independent. Those are the closest to the people and when you do not give them what they need when you are taking Lassa putting it in the pocket of the state these are the issues then you have MDAs what is what is that current expenditure that Lagos state is bosses out you have close to about 160 MDs in Lagos state why we don't need it we're going to shrink that and once all this has shrunk
28:51 then we can give the then you can even the APC with all due respect to you you can now deliver on the renewed hope agenda that Mr. president is trying to bring in because it is this money. It is this money that you are going to put in into the pockets of Lagosians. This money is the money that you need to use to to subsidize to to replace the issue of well subsidy. And that is what I'm going to say. Now when you look at that, you now look at your IGR. What do we call IGR? IGR is money Lego state collects from the pockets of its people. That is it. When the woman on the street collects money.
29:37 >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much, gentlemen. We have now successfully wrapped the first round of this debate. We're going on a short break. When we return, we turn our attention to another very important issue for the average Legosian transportation. Stay with us, everyone. Every morning over 22 million people ask Lagos for one thing. Not magic, not miracles, just a city that works, a bus that arrives, a rail that runs, a school that opens, a clinic that has medicine.
30:24 That city did not build itself. [music] It was built by people who stayed long enough to finish what they started. Planned, [music] funded, delivered project by project, year after year. The road ahead is long, but one man already knows every turn. Dr. Katri Hamzad, commissioner, special adviser, deputy governor. He didn't just watch Lagos grow. He joined hands with others to build it. Let's keep Lagos working. Vote Dr. Kafab Hamzad Koh for governor and princess damila James as deputy governor Lego state APC progress. This message is powered by governor. >> Let's keep losing.
31:12 [music] >> Lagos is a dynamic and forward-looking state with a proud history of progress, [music] innovation, and service. At the center of this story is a distinguished public servant, [music] engineer and experienced administrator. He has served in government as a commissioner and deputy governor working closely in the delivery of major projects and reforms [music] in Lagos state. He understands the needs and aspirations of Legagosians and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to practical solutions. The seven pillars of the Lagos promise are people first, renewal, opportunity, machinery of government, inclusion, security and resilience, [music] and everyday dignity. A tested public servant, a proven administrator, a
31:57 vision for a greater [music] Lagos. That is Koh. >> Legosians, on Saturday 6th February 2027, let's come out on mass and vote [music] for Kadri Obafi Hamzat as governor of Lagos State. Vote APC. It's your street, your community, and your voice. Now you [music] don't have to wonder whom to complain to. From bad roads and poor waste management to broken street lights, drainage [music] problems and other issues affecting your neighborhood. See it, report it, appraise it, complain about it because your voice matters. And when your voice joins the voices of your neighbors, [music] it becomes a voice that cannot be ignored. So how do you do this? Visit www.lgracker.ng
32:45 [music] and follow these steps. Step one, choose the local government you want to commend or file a report on. Step two, choose what category your report [music] falls under. Step three, write your report. Step four, [music] submit. Hold your local government accountable. See it, rate it, report it. Visit www.lgracker.ng. [music] Together we can make our communities better. [music] >> Good morning everyone. It's a [music] new day. Hi. >> Hey guys. I'm just at the rooftop keeping my finger on the pulse and my eye on the street. [music] >> Good morning. Hope you're up and ready
33:30 for the show today. >> Yeah, I just got to the office now. Have you contacted Abuja? >> Hello guys. We are set and right on our way to the studio >> and the guest is standing by. >> Hi Ria. >> I'm almost ready. [music] Just let me get my glam for the show. >> Good morning Ibraim. What about the days? >> I just grabbed the papers. I'm on my way. >> Good morning guys. Ria, >> good morning. >> Hi. >> Good morning Nigeria. No one knows how today go but every day starts with breakfast. So, starting right here on TVC [music] Breakfast every weekday at 7, meet Bingga or a fearless voice and an advocate for the truth. He's bringing
34:16 fresh energy and bold insights to Journalist Hangout. >> Get ready for deeper analysis and dynamic [music] perspectives. Join me and Baba Kadi with other veteran journalists on John What is it? What? [clears throat] What? He's in short. He's in short. Come back. [music]
35:07 [music] Thank you so much everyone for staying with us. It's the Lagos governorship elections debate 2027 live here on all the sister stations that are collaborating in the elections consortium. The candidates are on the stage and answering the questions. Economy is very important and for these next few minutes or so we will also be asking questions relating to the economy especially the issue of rent isn't it? >> Absolutely. It's on the mind of many Legosians the rent trap. Why should I spend 60 to 70% of my annual income on rent? Uh the expectation is you shouldn't be doing more than 30%. But studies show that legosians have to pay
35:53 a lot more. So take for instance a young professional earning 150,000 naira that has to pay 1.5 million naira annual rent excluding agency fees, agreement charges and other payments that they have to pay. My landlord just increased my rent a month before it expired. Now the big question is what will you do if you become governor to protect tenants from such exploitative practices the arbitrary rent increases that we've seen in the past years what exactly will you do differently for the average legosia you have 2 minutes let's begin with the agency candidate >> um there must be legislation that ensures that tenants are protected from arbitrary rent increases at least given
36:39 six months notice before that happens with a guidance of a percentage by which it can be increased by. So we're talking between 20 to 30%. Um aside that we must have a feedback loop where people that participate in this kind of um racket that I'll call it. So for instance you can look at an apartment in a in one um one apartment one self-contained that might cost 500,000 agency fees and um legal come up to another 500,000 you know. So that that is criminal and that has to be law that there has to be a law that is passed against that and there has to be we are going to create a feedback mechanism where tenants can report and the government will take action to bring those people to justice right so that we can have people that
37:25 have access to lowcost housing because that's what it really comes down to. Um, aside that we have to increase the housing stock and that's where that's why I've kept hammering on that delivering units and not just the units that we deliver but also partnering with people that have not been able to complete their buildings and come to an agreement with them that we can do short-term housing finishing and renovation so that that property can be in the ownership of the government for a couple of years which can then be given out in the same way we are giving out housing that we're building on the temporary basis important thing is to create shelter right in doing all of this we then increase the housing stock when supply increases um prices start to come down as well um and also we need to
38:12 ensure that we are also speaking to landlords and allowing for a system where people don't feel they can just get away with anything because that's another problem in Los state there is no justice right so when people when these kind of incidents are reported government must step in and ensure that people have access to polic housing. >> Thank you. Um, Dr. Hamzad, must Legosians work just to pay their landlords? >> Well, thank you very much. So, there is a Legos state real estate registration agency law that was passed just last year. What it says is that you can you should pay one year rent. So, the next chapter for Lagos is to enforce to make sure so people should not be asked 2 years 3 years ahead because nobody gets salary 3 years ahead. So and then it
38:58 also says that real estate agents will must register and be on that database. So I appeal to the citizens is in terms of communication to make sure that people use that site because that is the only way we can track because this when these things happen government must also have the feedback. So the site is available like I said it is Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency. If you Google it now it's there. So you can actually go there and then the next step like I said is to complete the ongoing housing stock like I said we have some going on in the bishi but some go and then make sure that we also reduce the time it takes for people to get regularization and title dates because it's also about cost when this is delayed we we just finish total
39:45 automation of that process so that people can actually do this thing online when the time takes time it also increase the cost of housing So the the the advantage for us is complete what is existing. Let people pay let people buy houses even at lower prices and then work with developers. As you develop a property say in Ecoi or VI can you develop another one in a godo. So those are part of the discussions that we will have so that as we are building for the rich we're also building for the poor apart from what the government is doing to make sure that people actually have housing. If you look at the my manifesto, the E part is everyday dignity. What it says is people should not pay rent that demystify their dignity. And what that means is we must work with landlord. We understand that
40:32 we run a capitalist economy but at the same time there must be >> Mr. Dati do you have an alternative response to this? >> Well, I mean I think the issues um are known right. So uh and a number of things have been touched on. I think first of all is this point around um you know for people who are low income when you look at what proportion of their rent is the actual landlord's rent and the proportion that is like agency fee and legal all those um additional fees um there's a form of racketeering that's going on there and what we have said if you look at our manifesto is that we'll set up an an ombbudsman's office to deal with this racketeering problem uh because that's where people are most vulnerable Um but the larger solution to the
41:18 problem is actually around the supply of housing. The problem that exists today was not created in one year. It is because housing supply has not kept up with growth in demand. And why has housing supply not kept up and where has housing supply not kept up? It is in the low part of the market. The affordable the low to medium income social housing. That is an area anywhere in the world where government has to be the primary driver. Private sector alone will not drive the number of units that are required to do this. And the last time we saw a big effort in this direction was during the tenure of all native jundi. This is the area where government needs to step forward. If you look at this government, one of the things that has been a that we have the most problem
42:05 with this government about is the fact that the government does not step up in a big way in the areas in which government ought to play a role. In other words, a social role. So you see it in things like affordable housing. You see it in things like public transportation. You see it in things like um health care for the poor. government takes this government takes a back seat and wants to allow the private sector to do and provide all these things and that is what leads to the question that you asked that why is it that in a society that is rich Lagos is rich most of the people are poor it's because government >> uh let's go to Mr. Dohati of the PDP, what's your strategy for affordable housing? >> Thank you very much. Um, first of all,
42:50 um, I would like to say this and that is once you're still carrying this kind of debt burden, you are not going to be be able to do much. I'm not going to come and lie here. You understand? Number one is that the your department of physical planning and all these things the percentage of you even building a house in in Lagos state is about 40% of the cost of itself. That's number one. Number two is that there is no landlord and there is no government that can control a landlord. There is none. What is going to happen is this. What we are going to do is very simple. We are going to rent those houses ourselves and then you come and rent from us if you want to
43:37 because at the end of the day you are not that's it is is either we want to listen to the truth or not. Government has to be the highest developers in the state. If they cannot compete with the landlords then let us forget it. at the end of the day you will have to dance to the landlord or the landlord will not pay you will not let you take his uh his his property. The other thing is this that at the end of the day long lease apartments low cost you are talking about low cost housing low cost housing what is the minimum wage minimum wage in Lagos state is probably 120 I hope at the end of the day 120 PER MONTH WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET which house all my
44:25 staff are all living in uh song water they living in h they're not even living in They are living in Gondo. They living down into state. So what are we talking about? If we want to lie, if we just want to play politics, then let us play. You understand? But this is my own position. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Your time is up. Let's take one minute. Reporter. Mr. Dati, your namesake. Do you agree with the strategy? >> Um, I'm trying to understand the strategy actually. >> So if you give me a minute to think about it, I might have a comment. Deputy Governor, what do you think? >> Well, like I said, what is important is to finish what is possible. Okay. There has been many
45:11 discussions on transportation. For example, Lagos is the only subs sovereign in the world that build rail on a balance sheet. That's a lot of money. But like I said, so and then all these things are connected. Part of our own strategy is to make sure that every station that a train gets to, we build a housing estate. So you reduce cost of transportation. You must look at the old channel. I just said that we must build 77 electric fairies. We that is part of a miracle. We will do 47 140 kilometers of water corridor. So it's a whole channel when you reduce cost of transportation when you reduce cost housing because you are providing housing. So it's a bit different from my own perspective.
45:56 >> That's your time deputy governor. Mr. Roads Vivor you have one minute. I would [snorts] say that Lagos state as a sovereign should not be building train systems on his balance sheet and that's why it's taking 16 years to do 16 km of rail. They can partner with with international financeers because the project itself is bankable and the project itself will pay itself over 30 years. But the reason why Lagos insists on putting on his balance sheet because they can then control the procurement which is not done in a transparent and accountable way which then slows down and ties the development of Lagos to the purse strings of the state which then all this time that is passing Legosians are not enjoying the ability to be connected to Lagos better. So that's my rebuttal to that. The state
46:43 should be a platform and a partner that allows for transparency and accountability in his systems and in his procurement so that we can achieve maximally in a very short period of time for the enjoyment of every legian. >> All right. Uh thank you so much gentlemen. We move quickly to yet another important pillar in this conversation and that's transportation and infrastructure. Um the question here for everyone to answer and Legosians would like to know what your agenda is one heavy rainfall and we have a paralyzed city. Why is our infrastructure so vulnerable? And the question I like directly the candidates to answer and give us specific solutions too.
47:29 Is Lagos building infrastructure for the climate and population of it of his today or continue to rely on drainage and road designs that cannot cope with its current realities? Which flawed plume roads will you prioritize? Will it require drainage capacity assessment before approving major road projects? Why in your own uh assessment is are we having a paralyzed Lagos with one reign? 2 minutes and we begin this time around with the PDP candidate, Mr. Adidati. >> Well, thank you very much. Um well, unfortunately we have this um um this weather change, the climate change
48:15 that's happening all over the world. So one area that Lego state at least has tried a little bit during fash time and then going on is the issue of the link bridge between um bodilon and and leki. Now having said that there are a lot of things that have created a lot of flooding and a lot of things within the logo state metropolis and that is drainage. Drainage is a very big problem and I think this has to be addressed. As far as all the other transportation and things are concerned, you know, um the flooding is happening all over the world. Drainage needs to be channeled in the right direction. Um the
49:00 transportation of the disabled, transportation of the old people has to be taken away from the BRT um u vehicles that are going on the on the lane now. And I believe that um flooding is just a a geographical phenomenon and at the end of the day I think it is how we manage it that's really going to matter. I think the commissioner is here also I I he has been doing quite a lot job. He has been doing quite a lot of Yeah. We see him all the time. So at the end of the day we have to give credit to where credit is due. You understand? He's been doing a lot clearing a lot of debt, clearing a lot of garbage out of drainage and things like that. [snorts] You know, our people just have to be a bit um um a bit
49:47 um uh disciplined as far as um debt is concerned. And I think um we will continue to work on whatever Lagos State government right now is already doing. We will work on it. We will uh continue to build on it and we will try and do things much better. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much. M funi, you have a different opinion. How can we fix this problem? What one rainfall and there's a problem in the city? >> Well, so what we see really is um end point really. It's these are symptoms, right? And there are what is produced by a long failure of governance. Yes, we're in a coastal environment. Yes, we're in a low-line environment. But that raises the bar for whoever is
50:34 governing that environment to think about how do you manage and govern the environment to ensure that you're not exposing yourself to undue environmental risks. What does that mean? That means you protect your wetlands. Your wetlands are your natural absorptive mechanism in a city like Lagos. That's what nature has provided for you to soak moisture when rains fall. If you're trying to if you get rid of your wetlands and you're trying to recreate it using drainage channels and so on, it will not work. Right? If you compound that by allowing people to build on drainage channels and then it's when they built after 20 years, you now come and break down their houses, that's also a problem. So, it's all about a failure of governance. If you manage appropriately, you will not
51:19 have these problems way down the line. Yes, we know that there's climate change. We know, right? But Lagos is not the only city that's facing climate change, right? Cities are dealing with it, right? And and you see, one of the things that government must do is that government must play the role that go that is government to play. And I want to make a point here using the example of the coastal road. When the coastal road was being built, which is a federal government project, the environmental impact assessment was not done before the project started. Lagos state government as a government should have stood up and ensured that that environmental impact assessment was done because we have something which we call separate separation of powers. Part
52:04 of the job of the state government is to ensure that its own citizens are not put in the situation of job and I think this is just another example of failure of governance. >> All right Dr. Thumbs up. Your time is up. Start now. Rather >> as the commissioner for works and infrastructure, I actually gazetted the alignment of the coastal road. The environmental impact analysis was done as far back then. So that is what is correct. As for drainage, Lagos is 2 m below sea level. Climate change is real. There are three existential threat for excessive rainfall. Last year it was 2.2 m rainfall. This year is 2.7 m. Because of high level, water will not penetrate quickly. We run a small land but we take
52:51 a lot of population. Somebody on this table has said that will be 150,000 on the land. That's a land. So the the challenge is that we have a a fantastic drainage system in Lagos. What we need to make sure is that it's never clogged. So it's a system. Our our going forward for us is to make sure that we maintain what we have built. Climate change is real. The whole of Changua actually got flooded in China. Not because China has a government fa no but because when the quantity of water is very high there the rate of percolation is is different. So we have channels that move water. Our ch our challenge is to make sure that we allow that water to move into the creek because remember when it is raining the
53:37 creek and the lagoon is also taking water. So I understand because I I grew up in motion and I remember clearly when my mother's shop was flooded. It's a very bad thing. So what Lego state is doing is to make sure that we prevent that ability to move water away from our coast from our to the to the lagoon and to the creek also it goes to actually building when we remove some building it's also because it's remaining on the on the flood plane the the last at the last we we went to Chevron and upon removing some walls water was flowing at alarming rate so also is at globally adaptation and your >> thank you so much Mr. Uh vivor your time. >> The biggest issue here is we lack
54:22 visionary governance. Anybody that's going to be a governor of a low-line coastal state should be a visionary should be looking at what Japan is doing. Should be looking at how should be looking at how they are managing water. What Venice is doing, what Netherlands are doing. These are even lower low-line coastal cities and they build on stilts. You see them starting to sandfield makoku. Now in about 3 years time somebody will come and say it's climate change when Lagos mainland is flooding right but then there's a technology there that they could have used where we can build on concrete steels that still allow for water to flow that is visionary new kind of thinking that we must put in you look at how Venice is built Venice is standing on trees but it still allows for water to flow and it has created a
55:08 resilient city that's not dealing with this kind of flooding issues that we are dealing with. Another thing that we need to consider is what are the standards of roads that we are building in this state. You see a road is done newly by next year when rainy season comes is like you're playing computer game dodging portals on the road. Roads are not built to standard especially for the for the for the condition of our rains of our flooding of our waters here. So we need to set proper standards and construction technicalities that the roads must meet and also tie in maintenance into the afterare of those roads. Another thing that we must do in terms of managing our infrastructure is being visionary with climate with scenario planning when we understand where we are. So when rains are going to fall we
55:53 should be able to predict and communicate this with our citizenry so that in the situation of flooding people know how to move and there alternative um situations that people can go into and then haphazards and feeling must be stopped. You find a situation where wetlands are being taken over, what we will do is ensure that wetlands are protected and we give it a use. So we can have solar farms on there, we can have parks like the Leki conservation center. Nobody can just wake up and sandfield that place tomorrow and it's our natural sinkhole for water in Lagos. So we must protect them. >> All right. Uh just before we go on a break, I know Mr. Funo Dohati as a reporter to what MBA said. Please go ahead. You have a minute. >> Thank you. I just wanted to uh note the points that he uh deputy governor made
56:39 about the alignment and the environmental impact assessment. You can't use an environmental impact assessment you did on an alignment you know uh several years ago for a road that you are building now and more importantly there's been a lot of developments since then. I have infor I have uh information obtained from the Bureau of Public Procurement a due process report for the environmental impact for the uh that coastal road that showed that at the point it was being presented to the BPP there was no environmental impact assessment. So let's not stand here and be you know whitewashing something that should not be whitewashed. If the state government did not do what it's supposed to do, we should be asking the state government, why did you not protect your citizens?
57:27 >> Mr. Abs, do you have a response to that? >> Constitution in our country has three sets. It's the federal government, the state government, is out local government. Federal government has the responsibility to do their job. No state government can stop a federal government. No federal government should stop a state government. That's the essence of federalism. So, federal government has the right to build. I don't know for a fact what he's saying. I don't know where he got his information from. But all I can tell you authoritatively is that I decided as the commissioner for trans for works and infrastructure, I decided that alignment and the at the time it was done. >> We go on a break everyone. Okay. So because there is another critical aspect of this conversation and that's the question a lot of legosians are asking.
58:12 Why should I spend many hours in traffic? Anyone who wants to govern Lagos must be able to tame Lagos traffic. Does anyone of the people standing on the stage have the solution to taming traffic in Lagos? We'll find our solution after this break. Join us again. Every morning over 22 million people ask Lagos for one thing. Not magic, not miracles. Just a city that works, a bus that arrives, a rail that runs, a school
58:59 that opens, a clinic that has medicine. That city did not build itself. It was built by people who stayed long enough to finish what they started. Planned, funded, delivered project by project, year after year. The road ahead is long, but one man already knows every turn. Dr. Katri Hamzad, Commissioner, Special Advisor, Deputy Governor. He didn't just watch Lagos grow, he joined hands with others to build it. Let's keep Lagos working. Vote Dr. Kafi Hamzad Koh for governor and Princess Damasa James as deputy governor, Lagos State. APC progress. This message is powered by Governor Babajid Sulu.
59:45 >> Let's keep Lagos [music] State working. >> Lagos is a dynamic and forward-looking state with a proud history of progress, innovation, [music] and service. At the center of this story is a distinguished public servant, engineer, [music] and experienced administrator. He has served in government as a commissioner and deputy governor working closely in the delivery of major projects and [music] reforms in Lagos state. He understands the needs and aspirations of Legagosians and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to practical solutions. The seven pillars of the Lagos promise [music] are people first, renewal, opportunity, machinery of government, inclusion, security and resilience, and everyday dignity. A
1:00:31 tested public servant, a proven administrator, a vision for a greater Lagos. That is Koh. >> Legosians. On Saturday, 6th February 2027, let's come out on mass [music] and vote for Kadri Obafami Hamzat as governor of Lagos State. Vote APC. Now your streets, now your community, now your voice. Now you know little they wonder how you report your matter. [music] Whether bad road matter, street lights
1:01:17 work, blood drainage or any other problem where they affect your community. As you see him, report him, rate him, talk him because your voice [music] matter. And when your voice join the voice of your neighbor, he go become one strong voice where nobody throw away. [music] Visit www.lgdracker.ng make you follow the sumo sumo step. [music] Step one, choose the local government where you want praise or report. Step two, choose the category where your reports fall under. Step three, writeing [music] you one report. Step four, submit your report. Hold your local government account table. As you see them, rate them, report them. Visit
1:02:04 www.lgtracker.ng. [music] Together, we will make our communities better. >> Good morning everyone. It's a [music] new day. Hi. >> Hey guys. I'm just at the rooftop keeping my finger on the pulse and my eye [music] on the street. >> Hey, good morning. Hope you're up and ready for the show today. >> Yeah, I just got to the office now. Have you contacted Abuja? >> Hello, guys. We are [music] set and right on our way to the studio. >> And the guest is standing by. >> Mhm. >> Hi, Ria. >> I'm almost ready. [music] Just let me get my gram for the show. >> Good morning, Ibraim. What about the dailies? >> I just grabbed the papers. I'm on my way. Good morning guys. Ria, good morning. Hi
1:02:51 Brian. >> Good morning Nigeria. No one knows how the day will go. But every day starts with breakfast. >> So starting right here on TVC Breakfast every weekday at 7. [music] >> Get ready to step into the heartbeat of your city like never before. Welcome to Events Diary [music] where every moment is a celebration. From the electric energy of Owbe extravaganza to the richness of our culture to the sophistication of corporate gatherings, [music] Event Diary is your VIP pass to the hottest gatherings in Nigeria. And guess what? I'll [music] be your guide, your style icon. Each week, join me as I
1:03:37 transform from traditional [music] chic to corporate sleek. Whether it's a birthday bash or a high-profile gala, you won't [music] just see it. You'll feel like you're right there with me. >> A from meetings to evening suarees, I'll be there on everyone and thank you so much for on [music] this debate. We turn our attention to something very important right now. Transportation remains one of the biggest challenges [music] of daily life in Lagos. The World Bank research brief published in September 2025 actually puts the average daily commute to Lagos at about 4 hours and it's considered one of the highest in the world. Add to that fact that transportation takes a significant chunk
1:04:22 of household income for Legagosian Sh. >> So the question we like you to answer and give us specifics because everyone in Lagos will probably agree with us tonight. the need to fix the problem of traffic. How much of a legosian's life should be spent in traffic? And I'll be beginning with the candidate of the ADC. Imagining a mother who lives in Eurodu at 5 in the morning and goes back home at 10 p.m. at night. They spend little hours with their family, spend more hours in traffic. They would like to vote for the man who has solution and answer for the traffic situation in Lagos. Give us one specifics of how you will resolve the problem of traffic. We
1:05:10 begin with the candidate of the ADC. 2 minutes please. >> Thank you. Well, traffic is not a lifestyle and we should not have to work to get to work. We must ensure that first in terms of urban planning. So we start from top level urban planning. We must decentralize development in Lagos stage which implies that you need to connect the entirety of Lagos which you've talked about rail line service. We need to deliver that in 2 and 1/2 years by opening up to the private sector infrastructure finance companies to come in and develop that because it is a bankable project that will pay itself over 30 years and should not be on the balance sheet of Lagos state. Once we've done that, we can then expand the eastern foreshore. Connect the eastern foreshore to bei access with short bridges. Not having one another
1:05:56 third mainland bridge that just has this oneway traffic. The same thing we are going from to the island and then now we have another going all the way to Aja. Short bridges 6 km and interweaving Lagos a lot more. Once we have all of this then we can now even connect with cable cars. There have been plans that have been set up in this Lagos state that the deputy governor is aware of since under the time of body to have cable cars in Lagos state right. We can connect the the train lines connect them with cable cars. Aside that we now need to normalize water transportation. We need to have fit for purpose vehicles on the water and have ferry terminals that are not just audio. When you go around you actually meet the ferry terminals and have enough water transportation. um
1:06:42 vehicles on the water that's fit for purpose. To achieve this as well, we must create a situation where you can park your car next to the ferry, get out of your car, get on the ferry and move across Lagos State. Another thing that we need to also normalize is creating bicycle lanes. Doing our inner roads properly so that people can move around their wards and their community on bicycle lanes and also ensure that development centers the independence of each of the local government so people don't have to making long trips outside of their ward and their local government. Thank you. >> Thank you so much Dr. Alvaramzad. One solution to traffic. Can you fix it? Under my plan the ad platform infrastructure renewal the plan is to give back time to the citizens to plan to rest to spend with
1:07:28 their family. There is nowhere in Africa none that private sector has funded a rail none in in in the whole of Africa. Now the plan since BRT started it has done 77 million journeys that is with 1,000 buses. My plan says we'll push it to 4,000 buses. The idea is to move 1 million people a day with 4,000 CG buses meaning up to 5,000 create BT lane from Marina to Equ from Marina to Badagri and so on and so forth. Today over 4 million people has carry card. What does that mean? It it means you can use ferry, you can zoom rail and you can use BRT buses one payment that we can deal
1:08:16 with or how to even subsidize it. Uh again water is very important because like I said Lagos is a water state with 77 electric fairies we can actually move a lot of people and it is faster because the the biggest challenge for for feries today is cost of diesel but with electric ferry we'll be able to move a lot of people. Part of the plan is to build a master ferry by Ushoki. That way you can run parallel to third min bridge. From Uroi to Iikoi is 15 minutes. From to VR is 20 minutes. From there to bad. is to make sure that we have one connected water rail and and and road >> with a car card with already by the time we get the rail to Kokumo and connect it
1:09:04 to the red line we can move 1 million people on a regular basis that is the plan and that is what we promised to do to make sure that we able to move legos we've identified 63 junctions we fix 42 now by the time we see the [bell] rest will move in motion >> m I'll come for reporter because I know that if you ask half of Legosians this is a major problem for them. Uh so we come back to the refuters and reporters. Mr. Fodi your own solution. Do you agree with him? >> So um I just want to highlight a few things. The first is that um the existing infrastructure is not being well managed. In other words, even the roads that we have are being managed chaotically. And part of
1:09:50 the problem that you have is that our transportation system, our public transportation system is not modernized. All right. When you see pictures of Lagos, people make pictures of it. What do you see? You see like thousands of like ricketetty buses that are like dilapidated and so on, right? These are the buses that our people are moving around in. We should ask ourselves the question, is this what our people deserve? Are there not countries where there are nice buses that people can get into, sit down and move around? Because part of the problem that causes the traffic chaos is the chaotic behavior of this uh unruly uh h um network. Right? A related problem is why has it taken so long to
1:10:36 modernize this transportation system? I'm just going to pick on some aspects of the problem because problem is a very wide problem. Look, I want to make a point here.
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