Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu Challenges SWDC on Quick Regional Development

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on the South West Development Commission (SWDC) to demonstrate its relevance by delivering tangible progress across the region. He emphasized the urgent need for the commission to swiftly address prevailing infrastructural and socio-economic hurdles.

Governor Sanwo-Olu issued this directive on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the SWDC management team, led by its Chairman, Olubunmi Adetunmbi, at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja. As the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Sanwo-Olu guaranteed the unwavering support of all governors in the geopolitical zone, assuring them of close collaboration for the commission's success.

“The essence of creating the commission is to bring meaningful development to the South-West. You can fast-track; you don’t have to work for a number of years to achieve what you need to achieve,” Sanwo-Olu stated. He further advised the commission to ensure the judicious use of resources and to align its initiatives with the broader national development agenda. He stressed, “Our objective should not be at variance with the national interest. Available resources must be properly utilised to deliver projects that will improve the lives of our people.”

Sanwo-Olu also challenged the SWDC to benchmark its performance against other regional development bodies nationwide. “You should compare notes with other commissions and replicate successful initiatives where necessary. Whatever I can do to ensure the commission does not fall behind in the comity of commissions, I will do, because to fall behind is an embarrassment,” he asserted, adding, “We are here to help make life better. It is a commission that has peer review, and you cannot afford not to do well.”

The governor welcomed the commission's proposal for South-West governors to serve on an advisory committee, acknowledging its potential benefits for regional advancement. He confirmed his intention to discuss this proposition with his counterparts within the South-West Governors’ Forum. Additionally, Sanwo-Olu pledged to provide office space in Lagos to serve as the commission’s liaison office, reiterating the state’s continued backing.

Earlier in the visit, Mr. Adetunmbi clarified that the primary objective was to foster stronger collaboration between the commission and the six South-West state governments. “The purpose of this visit is to extend courtesies to the governor of Lagos State as the chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum,” Adetunmbi explained. He added that the visit served as “a good starting point for the commission to familiarise itself with the managers of the states in the South-West, starting from Lagos.”

Adetunmbi revealed that discussions revolved around potential areas of partnership between the commission and state governments to accelerate development across the zone. “We explained the areas where we need assistance, which is to bring development to the South-West through collaboration and cooperation with the states that make up the zone,” he said. Concluding, Adetunmbi expressed optimism, stating, “I believe this is a good starting point, and the governor has assured the commission of his support and that of the South-West states, so we can work together to solve problems in the interest of the people of the region.”