Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for stronger public-private partnerships, streamlined regulations, and modern solutions that empower SMEs, attract global investors, and support young professionals for the vibrancy of CBDs in the state.
The Governor made the call on Wednesday at the Central Business Districts (CBD) Stakeholders Summit with the theme “Rebranding and Revitalizing Lagos CBDs: Strategies for Sustainable Growth and Development,” held at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, noted that the government’s priority is to modernize infrastructure, improve mobility, strengthen public safety systems, and deliver services that make business districts efficient places to work, live, and invest in the state.
His words, “We are deepening public-private partnerships to finance and execute critical projects, streamlining regulatory processes, and deploying contemporary solutions that support SMEs, attract global investors, and empower young professionals and informal sector participants who contribute significantly to the vibrancy of our CBDs.”
He added that the active involvement of government, investors, professional bodies, academia, civil society, and community stakeholders is essential to the overall development of Lagos Central Business Districts.
Speaking on the importance of CBDs as the nerve centers of Lagos’ economy, Sanwo-Olu stressed that the body function determines how the state competes, how investors perceive the state, how businesses grow, and how millions of people experience the city every day.
“Ultimately, the future of Lagos will be shaped not only by how fast we grow, but by how well we design the spaces where growth happens. If we get our Central Business Districts right, we strengthen the economic heart of Lagos. If we strengthen the economic heart of Lagos, we secure a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future for our people,” said the Governor.
Furthermore, Sanwo-Olu noted that the theme of the summit is anchored on three strategic pillars, which include: Functional and modern infrastructure that supports productivity and safety; Sustainable and resilient urban regeneration, and a business environment driven by partnership and inclusion.
He added that these pillars align fully with the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, which places inclusive economic growth, infrastructure expansion, environmental sustainability, and human capital development at the center of our long-term vision.
The Governor concluded that through initiatives such as the Lagos Island Model City Plan, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, the state government is pursuing regeneration that improves urban form, enhances walkability, strengthens environmental resilience, and prepares Lagos CBDs for future economic and environmental pressures.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties, Intergovernmental Relations and Central Business Districts, Hon. Rauf Olawale Age-Sulaiman, described Central Business Districts (CBDs) as critical to Lagos State’s economic and business growth.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Lagos State House of Assembly to supporting and implementing policies that will enable CBDs to thrive across the state.
In her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Central Business District, Mrs. Bola Olumegbon-Lawal noted that the future of the state’s CBS must be inspirational, stressing that it must inspire confidence in investors, pride in residents and belief in young entrepreneurs who see Lagos as the place where dreams are built.
According to Olumegbon-Lawal, “The modern Central Business District is evolving, it must be smart, digital inclusive and resilient. It must support multicultural corporations and small businesses alike. It must reflect Lagos’ unique energy while meeting global standards.”
The Special Adviser reiterated that the state never lacked ambition, thereby urging the people that together they can position Lagos as the leading business destination in Africa, a city whose Central Business District reflects excellence and global relevance.
In his keynote speech, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Wemabod Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bashir Oladunni noted that the State’s CBDs is the commercial heartbeat of the city, adding that it is a convergence point for finance, trade , governance and history.
Oladunni urged that the CBDs need a fundamental shift in perspective, but must be managed as a portfolio of economic districts that requires differentiated place specific Interventions, noting that a one-size-fits-all response from the government will not deliver sustainable outcomes.
The CEO noted that the summit reflects a shared understanding that the Central Business District remains one of Lagos’ most valuable economic assets and its future must be deliberately shaped through coordination, evidence-based planning and sustainable partnership.
