Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Obafemi Hamzat, has described the state’s persistent traffic congestion as more than a transportation problem, saying it has become part of everyday life for Lagos residents.
Hamzat made the remarks while speaking at PODFEST Naija, where he reflected on how traffic and other features of life in Lagos have influenced the city’s identity and creative industry.
The deputy governor spoke on Friday, while a video of his remarks was shared by News Central on Saturday.
“Not long ago, the story of Lagos was often told by other people; it was told in headlines about traffic, crowds and chaos. Some of those stories are not entirely wrong,” he said.
“Anyone who has crossed Third Mainland Bridge at 6 p.m. knows that Lagos traffic is not a problem; it’s just a lifestyle.”
Hamzat also connected the city’s traffic culture with the growth of its entertainment industry, noting that many residents use the time spent on the roads to consume creative content.
“I suspect that many of us in this room produce things that are consumed episode by episode between Ojota and Obalende. In a way, traffic has been the patron of your industry,” he said.
He urged members of the creative industry to view the city’s traffic experience from a different perspective.
“So, you must celebrate traffic, that’s why we’re Lagos,” Hamzat said.
Lagos traffic not a problem, it’s lifestyle’ – Obafemi Hamzat