Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has set an ambitious target for the state. And it is growing its economy to nearly $1 trillion by 2052. The vision, outlined in the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, reflects the government’s desire to transform Lagos into a globally competitive economic and financial hub. However, while such ambitions deserve attention, the government must not lose sight of a more immediate responsibility: improving the daily lives of millions of Lagos residents.
A megacity is not defined merely by the size of its economy, the volume of investment it attracts or the skyscrapers that dominate its skyline. It is also judged by the quality of life it offers its residents. For many Lagosians, that quality of life is determined by whether electricity is available, refuse is evacuated promptly and roads are motorable. These are basic expectations that should not be overshadowed by grand economic projections.
At the Lagos Executive Business Breakfast Meeting organised by the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Sanwo-Olu highlighted infrastructure development, technological innovation, investment and job creation as essential to the state’s future. He also pointed to achievements such as the Blue and Red rail lines, improvements in electricity regulation and investments in healthcare and education.
These projects are significant, particularly in a city whose population and economic activities place enormous pressure on existing infrastructure. Nevertheless, the government must measure progress not only by completed projects and investment figures but also by the extent to which ordinary residents experience meaningful improvements in their daily lives.
Electricity remains a major test of the government’s commitment to a better Lagos. Households and businesses continue to depend heavily on generators to bridge gaps in public electricity supply. The consequences include additional costs, noise and harmful emissions, while small businesses must often spend a substantial proportion of their earnings on alternative power.
Lagos has taken steps to establish a state electricity market following constitutional and legislative changes that opened the door to greater state participation in electricity regulation and supply. The challenge now is to ensure that these reforms produce tangible benefits for consumers.
The state government should work with electricity market operators, distribution companies and other relevant stakeholders to expand reliable supply, encourage investment in local generation and distribution, and improve accountability. It should also ensure that consumers receive clear information about tariffs, service standards and complaint procedures.
The goal should be an electricity system that allows businesses to operate more efficiently and households to enjoy a better quality of life. Economic growth cannot reach its full potential when businesses must spend heavily to generate the power they need to survive.
Waste management is another area requiring urgent and sustained attention. The accumulation of refuse in streets, markets, residential neighbourhoods and drainage channels undermines the image of Lagos as a city aspiring to global standards. Beyond the unpleasant sight and smell, poorly managed waste can block drainage, worsen flooding and create conditions that threaten public health.
The government must therefore move beyond periodic sanitation campaigns and emergency responses to establish a dependable waste management system. Refuse should be evacuated regularly, collection services should be monitored, and areas that are frequently neglected should receive particular attention.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority and other relevant agencies must be adequately equipped and held accountable for their responsibilities. The government should also strengthen recycling initiatives, support waste recovery businesses and enforce regulations against indiscriminate dumping.
Residents have a responsibility to dispose of their waste properly, but this obligation must be matched by accessible and efficient collection services. It is unreasonable to expect people to maintain clean surroundings when refuse collection is unreliable or designated disposal facilities are inadequate.
The condition of roads across Lagos also demands greater attention. While major highways and flagship infrastructure projects are important, the quality of life in many communities is shaped by the condition of neighbourhood roads that residents use every day.
Bad roads increase transport costs, damage vehicles, lengthen journeys and make access to workplaces, schools, hospitals and markets more difficult. During the rainy season, deteriorating roads and blocked drainage can turn ordinary journeys into exhausting ordeals.
The government should adopt a more systematic approach to road maintenance, with clear priorities, realistic timelines and regular public updates. Attention must extend beyond major commercial corridors to residential communities, inner roads and streets that connect people to essential services.
Road construction should also be accompanied by proper drainage and maintenance plans. Repeatedly patching damaged roads without addressing underlying drainage problems offers, at best, temporary relief. Public funds must deliver durable results.
The state government’s growing budget provides an opportunity to address these challenges more comprehensively. Sanwo-Olu disclosed that Lagos’s budget had risen from about N700 billion in 2019 to N4.2 trillion in 2026. Although a larger budget does not automatically guarantee better services, it raises legitimate expectations about the results residents should see from public spending.
The government should make the impact of expenditure more visible by publishing clear performance indicators for electricity access, waste collection, road rehabilitation and other essential services. Residents should be able to assess what has been budgeted, what has been delivered and what remains outstanding.
Accountability is particularly important because Lagos’s economic success depends on the productivity and welfare of its people. Workers who spend hours navigating bad roads, traders who struggle with unreliable electricity and families who live amid accumulated refuse cannot fully enjoy the benefits of economic expansion.
The governor has said he wants to be remembered as a leader who touched the lives of residents according to their individual needs. That aspiration should provide a practical measure of his administration’s performance. A legacy is not established by projections for 2052 alone; it is also built through improvements that people can see and experience today.
The Lagos State Development Plan 2052 identifies a human-centred city, modern infrastructure, a thriving economy and effective governance among its major pillars. These objectives are interconnected. A thriving economy requires reliable electricity and efficient transport. Modern infrastructure must include functional roads and effective drainage. A human-centred city must provide clean surroundings and dependable public services. Effective governance requires public institutions to deliver on their responsibilities.
The government must therefore resist the temptation to measure progress mainly through the language of global competitiveness and investment attraction. Such goals matter, but they should complement, rather than replace, the immediate needs of residents.
Lagos has the potential to become a stronger economic hub, but the journey towards that future must improve life in its neighbourhoods as well as strengthen its business districts. Investors need an efficient business environment, while residents need infrastructure that works.
The message to the Sanwo-Olu administration is clear: the ambition to build a trillion-dollar economy must be matched by a determined effort to provide reliable electricity, regular waste evacuation and good roads.
By 2052, Lagos may aspire to stand among the world’s leading megacities. But its residents should not have to wait until then to enjoy the basic services that make urban life safe, productive and dignified. The government must make a better life for Lagosians a present-day priority, not merely a promise for the future.