Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has declared that he has begun counting down to the end of his second and final tenure, saying he has 343 days left in office and is determined to spend them “with passion and commitment” to the people of the state.
Sanwo-Olu made the remark on Saturday while delivering the keynote address at the Geo-Economic Optimization Summit 2026, organised by the Citadel School of Government founded by the Presiding Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, Tunde Bakare.
The governor, who assumed office on May 29, 2019 and was re-elected in 2023, is expected to complete his constitutionally permitted eight-year tenure on May 29, 2027.
“Today marks my 2,579th day in the service of the good people of Lagos. By the grace of God, I have 343 days left in office—and I intend to spend every one of them with the same passion, determination and spirit of service with which I began,” he said.
Speaking on the theme “From South-West Nigeria to the Globe: Lagos State as a Geoeconomic Hub,” Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as a sub-national economy with responsibilities comparable to a sovereign state, stressing its centrality to Nigeria’s economic survival.
According to him, the state accounts for about one-third of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and ranks as Africa’s second-largest metropolitan economy after Cairo.
“Lagos is a sub-national economy that carries the weight of a nation,” the governor said, noting that the state’s strength lies in its diversified sectors including finance, technology, logistics, trade, creative industries and the blue economy.
He added that Lagos’ coastal position has historically made it Nigeria’s gateway to global commerce and a key player in continental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The governor pointed to several landmark investments shaping Lagos’ economic future, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Dangote Refinery, the Lekki Free Zone, and the state’s rail infrastructure projects.
He described the Lekki Deep Sea Port as a “world-class maritime asset,” while also noting that the Dangote Refinery has significantly reduced Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
On transportation, Sanwo-Olu said the Blue and Red Rail Lines are already operational, while the Green Line is progressing with federal support.
Despite the gains, the governor admitted that Lagos continues to face severe pressure from rapid urbanisation and population growth, which he said has expanded from under one million residents in 1960 to over 24 million today.
“Our infrastructure deficit remains vast. Rapid urbanisation presses upon housing, transport and services,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu renewed his call for a constitutional “special status” for Lagos, arguing that the state carries disproportionate economic responsibilities for Nigeria and deserves additional federal support.
He maintained that Lagos’ development is inseparable from the progress of the South-West and Nigeria at large, stressing the need for stronger regional integration through platforms such as the O’dua Group and the DAWN Commission.
Looking ahead, the governor said his administration remains focused on expanding mass transit, digital governance, climate resilience and sustainable economic growth.
“At the end of the 343 days, I will take a bow,” he said, “but until then, I will continue to serve with the same passion and commitment to ensure Lagos becomes even better than we met it.”
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