Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed that Lagos remains an inseparable part of Nigeria’s South-West region, declaring that the state will continue to champion economic integration and regional cooperation as a pathway to growth, investment and national development.
Speaking at separate high-level engagements this week, Sanwo-Olu urged political leaders, business stakeholders and citizens across the South-West to deepen collaboration and leverage the region’s collective strengths to drive prosperity.
The governor, who chairs the South-West Governors’ Forum, made the remarks during the Geo-Economic Optimisation Summit Lagos 2026 in Oregun and the South-West Citizen Government Engagement Summit in Akure, Ondo State.
Addressing participants at the geo-economic summit organised by the Citadel School of Government, Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as Africa’s leading geoeconomic hub, citing its strategic position in trade, finance, technology, logistics and infrastructure.
“Think regionally, act strategically, and cooperate generously, for no single state captures the whole prize alone,” the governor said.
He added: “Lagos belongs fully to the South-West and will continue to engender genuine regional integration amongst the states.”
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos remains central to Nigeria’s economy, contributing roughly one-third of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product while serving as a gateway for trade and investment into West Africa.
According to him, the state’s economy now exceeds $259 billion on a purchasing power parity basis, making Lagos Africa’s second-largest metropolitan economy after Cairo.
The governor highlighted major infrastructure projects including the Blue and Red Rail Lines, the proposed Green Line rail project, the Lagos-Badagry Expressway upgrade, the Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
He also renewed calls for constitutional recognition of Lagos through a special status arrangement, arguing that the state bears unique economic and demographic responsibilities as Nigeria’s former federal capital and commercial nerve centre.
At the South-West Citizen Government Engagement Summit in Akure, Sanwo-Olu urged leaders across the region to embrace a shared development agenda.
“We are gathered not merely to reflect on our journey but to reimagine our destiny — a South-West that once again sets the pace for Nigeria’s development,” he said.
The governor praised the establishment of the South-West Development Commission, describing it as a platform for accelerating regional transformation and promoting coordinated development.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they had improved investor confidence and strengthened the foundation for long-term growth.
According to Sanwo-Olu, major projects such as the Fourth Mainland Bridge, Lagos Green Line and the proposed Lekki International Airport are expected to benefit from improved economic stability.
Founder of the Citadel School of Government, Pastor Tunde Bakare, described Lagos as a model for sub-national development, while Prof. Sunday Adebisi of the University of Lagos Business School said the state had become a geoeconomic engine for West Africa.
The governor maintained that stronger cooperation among South-West states would help unlock greater economic opportunities and position the region as a leading driver of Nigeria’s development.
