http://www.lagosmonitoringteam.com/

Lagos Monitoring Team, Mushin Halt (2026)

09/01/2026

LAGOS LISTED AMONG TOP SEVEN ART DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD TO VISIT IN 2026 - REPORT

Lagos has been named as one of the seven art destinations to visit in 2026 by Artsy, the leading global online Art Marketplace.

The city was described as "a banner biennale in West Africa’s preeminent art capital."

According to an article titled "7 Art Destinations to Visit in 2026" published in artsy.net by Maxwell Rabb on January 8, Lagos is one of the "seven spots—from marquee art events to rising scenes—that are worth adding to an art-inspired travel itinerary in 2026."

The seven destinations picked by the leading global online Art Marketplace are Venice, Italy; Doha, Qatar; Sydney, Australia; Bangkok, Thailand; Lagos, Nigeria; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Malta.

Artsy disclosed that "Lagos is rapidly becoming the commercial and creative engine of African contemporary art, and this momentum will continue in 2026."

Stating why Lagos is among the seven art destinations to visit in 2026, the leading global online Art Marketplace, noted that the city’s momentum is sustained year-round by a fast-evolving arts community.

The article reads in part: "The fifth edition of the Lagos Biennial returns to the city from October 17th to December 18th. Its main exhibition—curated this year by Folakunle Oshun—is distinguished for its thematic urgency and use of non-traditional sites, mirroring the city’s density and political charge. This year, the theme is 'The Museum of Things Unseen', a reflection of ancestry and cultural history through the lens of museology.

"Amid the biennial, The Àkéte Collection – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will officially launch its permanent home in the city in October, aiming to become a 'living archive' for the African continent.

"Also taking place is the 11th edition of the ART X Lagos art fair from November 5th to 8th. 'Many of the young artists in Nigeria believed they had to leave the country to establish themselves globally. I wanted to change that. I wanted to bring the world to us,' the fair’s founder, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, told Artsy in December 2025.

"The city’s momentum is further sustained year-round by a fast-evolving arts community. Galleries such as Rele, kó, Ogirikan Art Gallery, and Nike Art Gallery support artists shaping contemporary African discourse, while institutions like the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History ground new work in deeper historical narratives."

Welcoming the report, which mentioned the State’s monumental J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Arts and Culture, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the listing of Lagos among other top cities in the world is a reflection of the State Government’s commitment to the development of the creative sector.

The Governor, restated the incumbent administration’s vision to make Lagos the number one destination for arts, culture and tourism in a few years to come.

“We will continue to invest in the sector in which our youths have exhibited remarkable talents,” the Governor said.

08/01/2026

SANWO-OLU CELEBRATES WIFE AT 59, SAYS SHE IS DEPENDABLE PARTNER

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has celebrated his darling wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on her 59th birthday. He described her as a courageous, kind-hearted and strong pillar of support.

Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, a medical doctor by profession, the First Lady and Chairman of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), clocks 59 on Thursday, January 8.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, described the Lagos State First Lady as a caring partner, committed prayer warrior and loving wife and mother.

He said his wife of over two decades has been a dependable and reliable partner in the delivery of the THEMES+ development agenda of his administration.

“On behalf of the government and the people of Lagos State, I celebrate my darling and loving wife, trusted and reliable partner, prayer warrior and the First Lady of Lagos, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on her 59th birthday.

“Ibijoke is a God-fearing woman, a good companion, and a caring and loving wife and mother. She is a passionate Christian and lover of children. She is my dependable partner, who has complemented the roles that God has given us with all sense of dignity.

"She is a reliable partner who has used her good office as First Lady to support my role as Governor in ensuring that the dividends of democracy are delivered to millions of Lagos residents.

“On this occasion of her 59th birthday, I thank God for her life and appreciate her for all the support, time, sacrifice and contributions to the growth and development of Lagos State.

“I also use this auspicious occasion to appreciate her remarkable contributions to our family, the medical profession, Lagos State, and humanity in general. I wish Ibijoke good health and more fruitful, prosperous and impactful years ahead.”

08/01/2026

Fact Check: No, Nigeria’s 2026 Tax Reform Does Not Tax the Poor
• It Leaves More Money in Their Pockets

By Olabode Opeseitan

How does a writer of evident intellect, claiming ex-World Bank credentials, channel his time and talent into crafting falsehoods designed to incite mass disaffection, rather than illuminate truth for societal good?

Emmanuel Orjih's viral essay on Nigeria's new tax laws exemplifies this: it alleges President Tinubu's tax reforms he called "Bola's Tax" forces low earners like 20-year-old "Joseph" (₦75,000 monthly village wage) into income tax, proving "Nigeria's poor are about to start paying taxes."

Most claims are either fabricated anecdotes or exaggerated distortions that collapse against the actual laws, as clarified by Taiwo Oyedele, chair of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee.

Far from burdening the vulnerable, the policy exempts them entirely, delivering more take-home pay than the old system, and targets high-end evasion to fund essential services like roads and schools.

Claim 1: Joseph on ₦75,000 Pays Tax After Pension, Proving the Poor Now Owe Income Tax

Orjih recounts grilling FIRS officials at an Abuja event, where they allegedly U-turned to admit Joseph's ₦75,000 salary (minus 8% pension = ₦69,000 taxable) falls into a tax bracket under the new rules. It's a compelling anecdote: subsistence youth dragged into the net.

The Reality: This math ignores the reform's foundational exemptions. The tax laws establish a zero-tax band up to ₦800,000–₦1.2 million annually (₦67,000–₦100,000 monthly), explicitly shielding national minimum wage earners (₦70,000) and those slightly above after consolidated reliefs: 20% of gross income plus fixed allowances for housing, transport, and dependents.

Oyedele has clarified: low earners like Joseph pay no PAYE or less than before, with 98% of Nigerian workers seeing higher net pay due to scrapped nuisance taxes and expanded reliefs.

Joseph's full salary stays in his pocket, with actually more disposable income than under prior uneven collections. The "U-turn" is a fabrication born of selective arithmetic.

Claim 2: Everyone Earning Under ₦190,000 Monthly Is "Poor", So Taxing Them Hits the Vulnerable

Orjih invokes World Bank authority (he's ex-staff) to define poverty at $4.20/day, converted to "approximately ₦190,000 per month." Since Joseph earns ₦75,000, he's poor, and taxing him indicts the policy.

The Reality: Orjih's ₦190,000 derives from abusing parallel market rates ($126 × ₦1,450 = ₦183k, rounded up), a deliberate distortion. This is methodologically wrong because World Bank poverty lines use Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) conversion factors, not black market exchange rates. PPP accounts for what money actually buys locally, not forex speculation. Nigeria's 2023 PPP factor (₦519/int'l $) yields ₦65,375/month, or ₦75,000 with 2025 inflation. NBS national poverty line: ₦52k-₦55k/month (2025-adjusted).

By expanding "poor" to include lower-middle earners (₦75k-₦190k), Orjih manufactures outrage where 50+ exemptions shield micro-businesses (

05/01/2026

“It’s AI Because It Says Grok” - A Masterclass in Loud Ignorance

By Sa'adiyyah Adebisi Hassan

The latest lie circulating online is the claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s photo with President Paul Kagame is “AI-generated.” The entire argument rests on one flimsy detail: a visible Grok label on the image. That’s it. No evidence, no analysis - just loud ignorance dressed up as intelligence.

For clarity, Grok is X’s built-in AI assistant, similar to Meta AI on Facebook or Gemini on Google. When an image is viewed, reposted, cropped, enhanced, or analyzed through X’s interface, it can automatically carry a Grok tag. This does not mean the image was generated by AI. It simply means it passes through the platform’s AI layer. Calling a real photograph “AI” because of a Grok label is like calling a document fake because it was opened in Microsoft Word.

Instead of admitting they don’t understand how the platform works, trolls escalated immediately to conspiracy: Tinubu is dead, on drugs, hiding, cloned, or running a fake presidency. This isn’t skepticism. It’s digital illiteracy mixed with political desperation.

The image itself exposes the lie. Anyone familiar with AI-generated images knows their weaknesses: inconsistent reflections, distorted hands, poor depth of field, warped cutlery, and broken spatial geometry. This photograph shows coherent lighting, accurate reflections on glassware, natural fabric folds, realistic aging, and proper spatial alignment - exactly what you expect from a real photo taken in a controlled diplomatic setting. Two sitting African presidents, meeting quietly at a private lunch, discussing global affairs. Nothing dramatic. Nothing theatrical. Just reality.

That reality is precisely the problem.

The photo shows Tinubu alive, active, internationally engaged, and operating at presidential capacity. No chaos. No noise. No spectacle. For people whose politics depends on hysteria, that calm normalcy is unacceptable. So the fallback fantasy becomes “It’s AI.”

There’s also the familiar contradiction.The same crowd crying about a wristwatch they Googled into a fantasy price tag, suddenly argue that the same person can’t afford a camera, a photographer, or competent media staff. Is he a billionaire puppet master or a fake president fabricating images? You can’t have both unless logic has completely collapsed.

Watch the pattern: when he’s quiet, he’s “missing.” When he appears, it’s “AI.” When he travels, he’s “hiding.” When he governs, he’s “not in charge.” This isn’t political opposition - it’s psychological denial. A refusal to accept an outcome they didn’t want.

Serious critics debate policy. Desperate people debate pixels, watermarks, and imaginary drug use. Dragging a sitting president into baseless allegations of death, fraud, or addiction without evidence isn’t courage. It’s intellectual bankruptcy.

President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not need to prove his existence to people who mistake software labels for forensic proof. While some are screaming “AI!” at a Grok tag, real presidents are having real meetings, in real rooms, shaping real outcomes.

The Grok label exposed nothing - except the level of ignorance of those shouting the loudest.

Reality remains undefeated.

04/01/2026

No Mountain Too High, Not Even Brazen Lies Against Tax Reform Laws

Politics has always had its share of grime. But even in the muck, there used to be a patch of moral ground where opposition meant scrutiny, not sabotage; where dissent was principled, not rigmaroled. That patch has vanished.

Today’s opposition in Nigeria has inadvertently pigeonholed itself as a band of narcissists, seemingly divested from the project of nation-building.

They oppose anything and everything the government does, not out of conviction, but out of compulsion. They don’t climb real mountains to prove they are ready to roll up their sleeves and offer viable alternatives to what is broken. Instead, they manufacture their own mountains. Mountains of lies. Mountains of distortion. Mountains built not to elevate the people, but to bury the truth.

Their strategy desecrates the spirit of that golden ballad, “No mountain’s too high for you to climb,” from Céline Dion and R. Kelly’s I’m Your Angel. A song of faith, resilience, and divine assurance. But in their hands, the mountain becomes a monument to misinformation. They scale it not with courage, but with cynicism, shouting down every policy, every reform, every glimmer of progress.

And yet, Nigerians are not fools. They have learned to walk through tunnels the opposition swore were ditches. They have found light where detractors insisted there was only darkness.

They said the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road was a mirage. But with just 47 kilometers completed, commuters are already testifying to its transformative power.

They prophesied that the naira would collapse to ₦10,000 per dollar. Instead, the slide has halted, and the currency is clawing its way back, now exchanging at about ₦1,444. That’s just 14.4% of the doomsday figure they peddled. In other words, the naira is performing over 85% better than their worst-case prophecy.

They called the tax reforms punitive. But here’s what the data says:

• Over 95% of small businesses are now exempt from Company Income Tax, freeing up capital for growth and survival
• Individuals earning less than ₦800,000 annually pay zero Personal Income Tax, shielding millions from fiscal pressure
• Commercial drivers and artisans can now save thousands of naira annually, thanks to the removal of multiple taxes and levies

The moral? With belief and grace, even the steepest climbs are surmountable. That is the true metaphor of Nigeria’s tax reform journey. Uphill, yes. But destined for elevation.

Opposition has a sacred role in democracy. But when it trades truth for manipulation, it forfeits credibility. And truth, by its nature, doesn’t wrestle in the mud. It waits. It watches. And when it rises, it does so with quiet thunder.

As the old proverb reminds us: if falsehood runs for twenty years, truth will catch up in a day.

That day is here. The climb has begun. And Nigeria is rising.

Still, not all is lost. There are deep thinkers among the opposition, those who know that democracy thrives not on spectacle, but on substance. To them, the call is simple: sweat out credible alternatives. Offer substance, not sabotage. The nation needs critics, not cynics. Builders, not hecklers. The mountain is high, but so is the view from the top.

One hopes there are voices within the opposition bold enough to call for a recalibration. The current posture is too placid, too theatrical. It is 10 percent substance, 90 percent exaggeration or outright fallacy. Perhaps they saw the numbers and panicked. How do you challenge, pound-for-pound, a party with nearly 30 governors to your none, and win, without twisting the facts to demonize every government policy while painting yourselves as spotless?

But the Nigerian electorate is not naïve. They are watching. They are listening. They have been taken for a ride before, and this is not their first rodeo. They know how to reward those who earn their trust, and how to punish those who betray it.

Olabode Opeseitan
Editorial Architect | Legacy Steward | Strategic Communicator

04/01/2026

2026: SANWO-OLU PLEDGES TO CONSOLIDATE ADMINISTRATION'S GAINS

•Governor to complete, commission transformational projects across Lagos

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised to consolidate on the gains of his administration in the last six and a half years through the THEMES+ vision by completing and commissioning some iconic and transformational projects across multiple sectors in different parts of the State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said all the projects and ambition of his administration for this year will be supported and enabled by the 2026 budget, tagged "The Budget of Shared Prosperity", which is currently before the State House of Assembly, noting that his government's final full-year budget is anchored on four pillars – human-centred approach, modern infrastructure, thriving economy, and effective governance.

He said with an expenditure profile in excess of N4 trillion, the 2026 budget will deliver a model Lagos: cleaner, safer, more prosperous, resilient, and inclusive.

Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke on Sunday at the 2026 Lagos Annual Thanksgiving Service themed 'Grateful for Unfailing Mercies'. The event held at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, was organised by the First Family of Lagos State with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

He said God is good to Lagos State; therefore, the 2026 Thanksgiving Service is an avenue to appreciate and celebrate God's everlasting mercy on the State and the residents.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagosians will benefit from construction and rehabilitation projects, as well as educational and medical facilities, youth and sports centres, drainage and flood control systems, bus and ferry terminals, housing projects, water schemes, waste management plants, court buildings and the Omi Eko project, among others.

He said: "We are now four days into a new year, with 361 days ahead of us – each day filled with promise, potential, and opportunity to improve our State, our country, and indeed, the world. By the special grace of God, Lagos State will not waste this abundance of opportunity that God has placed before us.

"Under my leadership, we will continue consolidating the gains of the past six and a half years, guided by our THEMES+ vision. We will complete and commission many transformational projects across multiple sectors and in different parts of the State.

"The year 2026 is particularly significant for me, as it marks my last full year as Governor of Lagos State. For this reason, I am deeply driven and compelled to make this year count – deliberately and decisively. It must be a year of extraordinary meaning, significance, and benefit for all of us."

Governor Sanwo-Olu said among the projects to be commissioned and put to use this year are Ojo General Hospital, the Odo Iya-Alaro Link Bridge, the new Massey Children’s Hospital, the Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub in Epe, the new Psychiatric Hospital in Ketu Ereyun, Epe, and the new Multi-Storey Office Complex in Alausa.

He also listed some of the road infrastructure projects to be completed and commissioned in 2026, such as the Igbogbo–Bola Ahmed Tinubu–Igbe Road; the Agric Isawo–Konu–Arepo Road, Phase One; the Gberigbe Road, from Ewu Elepe through Gbodu Junction to Gberigbe Town; and the Adamo–Akanun–Agunfoye–Lugbusi Road, all in Ikorodu, and the Opebi–Mende Link Bridge and its approach roads in Ikeja. 7

The Eti-Osa/Lekki/Epe Expressway, Phase 2A, from Eleko Junction through Awoyaya to Greensprings, and from Majek to Abraham Adesanya in Eti-Osa and the Magbon–Alade Township Roads in Ibeju-Lekki, as well as the Ijegun–Ijagemo Road and the Akesan–Igando Road in Alimosho, will also be completed and commissioned this year.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, during his address, acknowledged "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—our visionary leader and the father of modern Lagos—and his dear wife, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who birthed this idea of an annual thanksgiving service during his time as Governor of Lagos State."

He also appreciated the religious leaders for their unending intercession and consistently standing in the gaps for Lagos State.

During the event attended by Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, his wife, Oluremi; the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; current and former public office holders; and religious, traditional and political leaders, among others, the First Lady, Dr (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, read the First Lesson from Psalm 89: 1-8.

Praises and hymns were rendered by renowned gospel ministers, and clerics offered special prayers for President Tinubu, his family and government; Governor Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr Hamzat, and their families; the Lagos State Government; and residents of the State.

02/01/2026

SANWO-OLU CONFIRMS 8 FATALITIES, 13 SURVIVORS AT GNI BUILDING FIRE

•Governor inspects building code violations at Balogun markets, orders integrity audit on standing buildings

•DNA to be conducted on three charred bodies for identification

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, returned to the scene of the Christmas Eve fire at Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, to assess the emergency response at the site.

The State’s firefighters and emergency management team, joined by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and security agencies, are yet to leave the site, combing the debris for rescue of possible survivors that could be trapped.

Sanwo-Olu, at the fire site, confirmed the death of eight victims in the inferno, with three of them burnt beyond recognition. Thirteen traders trapped in the rubbles were rescued alive by the combined team of first responders.

Five bodies, the Governor disclosed, had been identified by their families, pointing out that the State Government would conduct DNA tests on the three charred bodies evaluated from the site to identify their families.

After assessing the magnitude of the damage done by the GNI building fire on surrounding buildings, Sanwo-Olu moved round the adjoining streets within the Balogun Market to audit the high-rise buildings.

Revelation pointed to many contraventions and flouting of building codes by the traders in the Balogun market, prompting Sanwo-Olu to direct complete regeneration of the market for restoration of its aesthetics and space.

Sanwo-Olu said he observed reckless flouting of the State’s building regulations to an unacceptable level, noting that the traders were lawless. He said each time people flouted the rules and refused to obey regulations, the effects were always greater in impact.

He said: “In the last one hour, I’ve gone round the streets within the market. From a non-professional assessment, it was clear that most of the buildings in the market are completely distressed. But, we will conduct a professional assessment on all the buildings to ascertain our findings. We will not sit back and listen to people doing as they like. Lives have been lost, properties destroyed and means of livelihood shattered.

“We have seen that there has been a lot of recklessness and carelessness on the part of the traders. Going round the market, I personally counted over 14 industrial generators placed on the fourth floor and fifth floor of some buildings. We saw unapproved structures built on original floors approved in certain buildings. I saw shops built next to electric transformers, which goes to show how traders have been careless with their lives.

“This is an opportunity for us to embark on complete regeneration of the whole area. We are sending message to property owners and developers to come forward; we will be evaluating all the buildings in the market. Regenerating the trading space is going to be a tough decision for us but it is a proper step to take to preserve lives and properties. We will not shy away from taking this responsibility.”

Sanwo-Olu addressed the speculations about people missing and trapped at the fire site, noting that the emergency responders would remain on the site to comb through the debris for possible survivors.

The Governor decried the fatalities recorded, stressing that the rescue team ordered occupants to leave the building while the fire spread.

He also said trading in unapproved areas made vehicular movement difficult in the market, which hindered the first responders from getting access to the scene on time.

“When the fire was raging, people were told to leave the building and the nearby buildings but some of them stayed back to salvage their goods at the risk of their lives,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor designated the site as “active site”, disclosing that emergency responders comprising Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), NEMA, police, Department of State Service, the Army, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) and Central Business District (CBD) Office would remain on the site to assist families seeking information.

Some families searching for missing persons were addressed by the Governor at the site. They sought the Governor’s help to get the emergency team to double its rescue effort.

The Governor responded with an assurance of thorough search of the wreckage to rescue any victim that could be trapped. He said the search team would ascertain the safety of its personnel before burrowing into the debris, as there were many unburnt flammable materials at the site that could potentially wreak havoc on the team.

For continuous emergency management at the scene, Sanwo-Olu directed that all shops and buildings within 100 metre radius of the fire site should remain shut until further notice, stressing that the area was still not safe for movement.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year 2026 to our esteemed followers.

May this New Year bring new opportunities and joy to you all.

Lagos Monitoring Team

30/12/2025

LAGOS CANCELS GREATER LAGOS FIESTA 2025

The Lagos State Government has announced the cancellation of the year 2025 Greater Lagos Fiesta, scheduled to be held on December 31, 2025.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, on Tuesday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while approving the cancellation, directed that in place of the Greater Lagos Fiesta (Countdown 2026), Lagosians should spend quality time in personal prayers for the nation, the State and the people of Lagos.

He also urged people to pray for "our continued prosperity, leadership, peace, productivity and our continued general wellbeing."

The Governor wished all Lagosians a happy and prosperous year 2026, saying that the coming year shows great promise for the State and Nigeria. He, therefore, enjoined residents to continue to live in peace and harmony.

“On behalf of my family, I wish every resident of our dear State a happy and prosperous new year.

"I want to assure you all that the year 2026 will be a better year for us in the State, as our administration is determined to work twice as hard to deliver the goods for the residents of the state ," Governor Sanwo-Olu said.

30/12/2025

BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU: Africa’s Most Underrated Governor

By Olabode Opeseitan

IN THE BEGINNING
He emerged on Nigeria’s political scene like a quiet storm: unexpected, undeniable, and transformative. From the fringes, he became the Number One citizen of the largest and most prosperous state in the country. He was not even a front-runner in the election that birthed him, if he was in the running at all. His story echoes Romans 8, where Apostle Paul reminds us that before we were formed, God predestined us.

God had already written Babajide Sanwo-Olu into the script of Lagos. But he did not know. Or, if he did, he kept it close to his chest. No one saw it coming.

FATE BECKONED
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Lagos political elite cast their lot with Sanwo-Olu. The rest, as they say, is history.

His rise is one of the classiest examples where preparation met opportunity.

THE MAKING OF A GOVERNOR
Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s intellectual cadence is rare, the kind that is subdued from afar but glitters in close proximity. His grasp of Lagos’s sprawling challenges and its untapped potential is nonpareil. Since joining the Lagos State executive council during President Tinubu’s second term as Governor, Sanwo-Olu has been a quiet student of power, policy, and people.

His résumé reads like a masterclass in public service preparation: Special Adviser on Corporate Matters to the Deputy Governor, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, and Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions. Before politics, he held senior roles in banking, including at UBA Group and First Inland Bank. He holds an MBA and trained at the London Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School.

But his secret weapon, what ultimately distinguished him, was not just competence. It was humility. Loyalty. And a track record of quiet delivery.

From left to right and right to left, “level” reads the same. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been a top-level performing Governor.

Yet somehow, perceptually, “level” in his case has not read the same. Not many have been completely wowed by the impact he has made, from infrastructure renewal to education, transportation, healthcare and cultural grounding.

Sanwo-Olu's attainments need no sugar-coated gallons of whitewashing.

Verifiably, he has steadily elevated Lagos into global reckoning. The disconnection between his performance and perception is not for lack of effort by Lagos State’s robust information machinery to amplify his 'meritronics’, a term that captures his ability to engineer merit into extraordinary outcomes.

The glue that should make it all stick is still finding its way around heartfelt stickiness.

Blame not those who cannot see Sanwo-Olu’s unique leadership ethos. Sometimes in life, if we don't take a step back to recall significant milestones, we can easily forget the immeasurable contributions of leaders to societal growth.

THE LAGOS CONTINUUM
Since 1999, Lagos has cultivated a rare culture of continuity. Each administration has extended the scaffolding built by its predecessor, following the foundational blueprint crafted by Tinubu’s genius.

Babatunde Raji Fashola dazzled with Infrastructure. Akinwunmi Ambode stormed with innovation. Their legacies are etched in the minds of Lagosians.

But as Sanwo-Olu enters the twilight of his second term, he is not always spoken of with the same reverence. And yet, by numerous metrics of governance, he has raised the bar.

THE LEGACY PROJECTS
There could only be space in this short piece to list just a few of Sanwo-Olu's legacy projects. Many others are spread across the state.

Infrastructure & Urban Renewal
• Roads & Bridges: Pen Cinema Flyover, Lekki-Oniru corridor, Aradagun–Mosafejo–Ilado–Imeke Road (Badagry), Epe-Poka-Mojoda Road, 29.7 km Eleko Junction–Abraham Adesanya six-lane carriageway, Aboru–Abesan Link Road (Alimosho), multiple roads in Ikorodu with full drainage and solar lighting.
• Bridges & Interchanges: Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge (completed), Marina and Mile 2 Interchanges (under construction to be completed by 2026).
• Water Management: Ilubirin Stormwater Management System: 3 million liters/hour capacity, flood mitigation for Lagos Island.

Transportation & Mobility
•Rail:
• Blue Line Rail: 13 km completed and operational; over 1 million passengers in 219 days. Remaining 14 km to Okokomaiko due in 2026.
• Red Line Rail: 27 km delivered; final 10 km to Marina under construction.
• Green Line Rail: 68 km electric corridor from Marina to Lekki Free Trade Zone under construction.
• Road-Terminal Integration: Four new bus terminals: Yaba, Oyingbo, Ajah, Mafoluku.
• Water Transport: Lagos Ferry Services expanded with new boats and mobile app; Omi-Eko Waterways Project (€410 million): 70 hybrid ferries, 25 terminals, 140 km dredged routes.

Housing & Urban Development
• Over 3,000 housing units delivered by 2023.
• Additional 233 units commissioned in Eti-Osa in 2025.

Water & Sanitation
• Adiyan Water Project: 140-million-gallon-per-day facility under construction, set to transform potable water access by 2026.

Healthcare
• Hospitals: Massey Street Children’s Hospital, 500-bed Psychiatric Hospital (Ketu-Ejinrin), General Hospital (Ojo), all scheduled for commissioning in 2026.

Education
• Distributed 450,000 e-learning devices to students as part of the Eko Excel initiative, deepening digital access and learning outcomes.
• Infrastructure: 4,000 classrooms built or renovated across all six education districts.

Security
• Massive LSSTF investments: 440+ patrol vehicles/motorbikes, APCs, drones, thousands of CCTVs.
• Outcomes: Zero bank robberies in four years; 172 of 189 home invasions foiled in a recent reporting period.

Youth & Sports
• Eight mini stadia built, including the Sanwo-Olu Mini Stadium at Sura, Lagos Island.

Industry & Economy
• Oluremi Tinubu Industrial Leather Hub: West Africa’s largest; ₦387.5 billion projected annual revenue; 10,000 jobs.
• Imota Rice Mill: Africa’s largest; operational, processing 32 metric tons/hour.
• Epe Food Hub: 220-hectare logistics park; expected to slash food prices by 50%. It's scheduled for commissioning in 2026.

Trade & Ports
• Lekki Deep Sea Port: Completed and commissioned.

A LEGACY IN HUMANE LEADERSHIP
During the protests, Governor Sanwo-Olu showed an uncommon depth of compassion. Twice, he walked into the eye of the storm at the Lekki Toll Gate to engage with aggrieved youths. On both occasions, he was booed and stoned. Yet, he did not retaliate. He did not unleash state power. Instead, he humanized leadership, choosing empathy over ego, dialogue over force. He appealed for calm, embodying the kind of moral courage that people may forget but history remembers.

THE CULTURAL REBIRTH
Today, Lagos is on the lips of millions across the globe. “Detty December” has transformed from a local slang into a cultural phenomenon. In December, Lagos becomes a pilgrimage site: Afrobeat concerts, fashion weeks, art fairs, cultural festivals and culinary festivals converge into a month-long celebration of African excellence.

There were reports that in 2024 alone, Lagos welcomed over 1.2 million tourists during Detty December, generating over $70 million in revenue. From the Flytime Music Festival to the lights of Ajose Adeogun, from the rhythms of Victoria Island to the spiritual pulse of Epe and Badagry, Lagos has become Africa’s December capital.

This is not accidental. It is the fruit of vision, planning, and investment.

NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY
Yet, Sanwo-Olu must finish strong. There is no room for complacency.

Preparation for Detty December 2026 must begin now. With Zenith Bank Plc’s investment, Ajose Adeogun has become the epicenter of Lagos’s festive glow. The lights are no longer just decorations, they are declarations. Tourists from the diaspora and across Africa now make their way to Lagos to witness the spectacle.

Top on the mind of the Sanwo-Olu team should be how to elevate the Ajose Adeogun and Adetokunbo Ademola corridors into world-class boulevards. The walkways must rival the Dubai Walkway in finesse and touch of class. Ordinary must give way to the excellence Lagos is associated with. The road network must be upgraded. Returning visitors in November/December 2026 should gasp and say, “We’ve never seen this kind of transformation before.” The same must be done for Alfred Rewane Road and other key arteries that define the Lagos experience.

Lagos once held the crown as Nigeria’s football capital. The National Stadium in Surulere was the hallowed ground where the Nigeria Super Eagles soared and national pride found expression. That era has faded. Under Governor Ambode, Lagos sought to reclaim this heritage by requesting the stadium’s transfer from the Federal Government, a request the Buhari administration declined. But the Tinubu presidency has signaled a new openness, recently handing over the Ahmadu Bello Stadium to Kaduna State. Lagos must seize this moment. Sanwo-Olu should revive the push to acquire and transform the National Stadium into a world-class sports city, restoring its place as the beating heart of Nigerian football.

HISTORY WILL REMEMBER
If Lagos is now a global stage, then Sanwo-Olu has been its quiet stage manager, pulling levers, cueing lights, ensuring the show dazzles, even if his name is not always on the marquee.

The numbers speak, even when the applause is muted. The impact is visible, even when the spotlight is not.

Perhaps it is the Lagos paradox: a city too vast, too noisy, too distracted to pause and notice the steady hands steering its ship. Or perhaps it is the humility of the helmsman himself, uninterested in theatrics, uninterested in self-promotion, focused instead on delivery.

But history has a way of catching up with quiet excellence.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu may not have been the loudest voice in the room. But he has been one of the most consistent. One of the most prepared. One of the most quietly effective.

And when the final chapter is written, Lagosians may yet look back and say: we had a Governor who did not shout, but built. Who did not boast, but delivered. Who did not seek the spotlight, but lit the stage.

Africa’s most underrated Governor? Perhaps. But not for long.

Lagos Monitoring Team

09/01/2026

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