Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 Lagos election, has renewed attention on the idea of stronger economic and infrastructural integration across Yorubaland.
Speaking in Yoruba, Hamzat discussed the importance of bringing Yoruba communities and the states of the Southwest closer together through infrastructure, particularly an interconnected railway system capable of linking Lagos with other parts of the region.
In remarks circulated on social media, Hamzat spoke about the possibility of developing rail connections stretching from Lagos towards Ogun and Ekiti, presenting the concept as part of a broader strategy for regional economic development. He gave the practical example of someone being able to live in Lagos while owning a farm or pursuing economic activities in Ekiti, made possible by efficient transportation links.
The proposal reflects a broader argument that economic integration does not necessarily require the restoration of Nigeria's former regional system of government. Indeed, Hamzat recently argued that the Southwest could pursue greater cooperation through collaboration among its existing state governments, including harmonising development plans and jointly pursuing infrastructure projects.
His comments come at a time when transportation connectivity is increasingly central to discussions about economic growth in the Southwest. Better rail connections could potentially make the movement of people, agricultural produce, goods and services between states faster and more efficient, while also expanding access to employment and investment opportunities.
Hamzat's professional background has also shaped his reputation as a technocrat with an emphasis on infrastructure, engineering and technology. He has served as Lagos Commissioner for Science and Technology and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure before becoming Deputy Governor in 2019. His current political campaign presents infrastructure, service delivery, job creation, knowledge and skills development among its priorities.
The vision therefore goes beyond railway construction alone. At its core is the idea that the states of the Southwest can coordinate their development efforts more closely while remaining constitutionally separate. Roads, railways, agriculture, technology, commerce and human-capital development could become components of a wider regional economic strategy.
For supporters of Hamzat, the emphasis on connectivity represents the kind of long-term thinking they believe the Southwest requires. One supporter responding to the circulated video described him as “a genius” and expressed strong support for his political ambition.
The debate, however, will ultimately depend on how such an ambitious vision could be financed, coordinated and implemented across multiple states and levels of government.
What is clear is that Hamzat is placing regional connectivity and coordinated development firmly within the conversation about the future of Lagos and the wider Southwest.
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