Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election, 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 remark at the 2026 edition of PODFEST Naija in Lagos, where he discussed the city’s culture, creativity, and the experiences that shape the lives of its residents. The event brought together podcasters and content producers from across the country and was held at a venue in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The deputy governor spoke on Friday, and a video of his remarks was shared by News Central on Saturday. By Saturday afternoon, the clip was widely circulated on Nigerian social media, attracting reactions from commuters, urban planners, and political commentators.
“Not long ago, the story of Lagos was often told by other people,” Hamzat said at the event. “It was told in headlines about traffic, crowds, and chaos. Some of those stories are not entirely wrong.”
He then told the audience, “Anyone who has crossed the Third Mainland Bridge at 6 p.m. knows that Lagos traffic is not a problem; it’s just a lifestyle.” That single line became the most quoted passage from his address.
According to Hamzat, many of the creators at the event produce content consumed by Lagos residents during their daily journeys, particularly along major routes such as the stretch between Ojota and Obalende. He described traffic as having become a patron of the creative industry.
“I suspect that many of us in this room produce things that are consumed episode by episode between Ojota and Obalende,” he told the audience, adding, “In a way, traffic has been the patron of your industry.”
He urged creatives to embrace this aspect of Lagos life rather than view it solely as a drawback, concluding, “So, you must celebrate traffic; that’s why we’re Lagos.”
The deputy governor acknowledged the longstanding reputation of Lagos for traffic congestion, crowded roads, and urban chaos but said the situation had also developed a connection with the city’s entertainment and creative economy. That framing drew the sharpest attention from observers online.
The remarks came as traffic congestion remains a major feature of daily commuting in Lagos, a rapidly growing city where large numbers of residents travel between the mainland and island areas for work, business, and other activities. Lagos is estimated to have a population exceeding 15 million people, making it one of the most congested urban centers on the African continent. No timeline for new transport infrastructure was offered in the address.
Hamzat’s emergence as the APC governorship candidate places the issue of transportation and traffic management among the issues likely to feature prominently in discussions ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election. Friday’s remarks add a particular dimension to how he intends to handle that conversation.
He told the PODFEST Naija audience that the relationship between Lagos traffic and the creative economy reflected the city’s ability to turn everyday experiences into opportunities for storytelling, entertainment, and cultural expression. He did not announce any new policy or infrastructure plan during the address.
Hamzat has served as deputy governor of Lagos State since 2019, working under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. His candidacy for the 2027 election makes him the state government’s most prominent face heading into the next electoral cycle.
What Hamzat did not address at PODFEST Naija was the economic cost of the gridlock he celebrated. He said traffic congestion in the state is not a problem but a lifestyle that must be celebrated for boosting content creation and the creative industry, and he noted that traffic gridlock boosts content consumption by Lagos residents.
The Lagos traffic debate, and whether the next governor intends to solve it or simply reframe it, now has a clearer answer from the APC’s 2027 candidate for the state.
