By Aderonke Halimat Oyefolu
Lagos is a city of many identities, histories, aspirations and possibilities. It is a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, religions and economic interests, accommodating people from different parts of Nigeria and beyond. It is a city where people come to dream, work, invest, build families, pursue opportunities and, in many instances, find a new meaning for life. While Lagos may historically and culturally belong to some people more than others, its development is a collective responsibility that concerns everyone who lives, works and earns a living within its geographical boundaries. Indeed, the Lagos of today is too significant to be the exclusive concern of any particular group. Lagos is for all, and all must be for Lagos.
This understanding should inform the political consciousness and civic responsibility of every resident of the state. One of the unfortunate assumptions that sometimes characterise political conversations in Lagos is the suggestion that political participation should be the exclusive preserve of indigenous Lagosians. While the historical ownership, cultural heritage and traditional identity of the original inhabitants of Lagos deserve recognition and respect, such recognition should not translate into political indifference or exclusion for other residents. A person who has lived in Lagos for decades, pays taxes, operates a business, sends children to school, contributes to the economy and is directly affected by government policies cannot reasonably be considered politically insignificant.
The truth is that governance does not discriminate in the distribution of its consequences. Whether one is an indigene of Lagos, a resident from another part of Nigeria or a foreign national, the quality of roads, public transportation, healthcare facilities, security architecture, environmental management, educational institutions and economic opportunities affects everyone. The decisions made by the government of Lagos have implications for virtually every resident. It is, therefore, only reasonable that everyone should demonstrate interest in the political direction of the state.
Political participation goes beyond contesting elections or belonging to a political party. It involves understanding government policies, registering to vote, obtaining a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), participating in electoral processes, engaging elected representatives, demanding accountability and making informed choices about the people entrusted with public responsibilities. It also entails recognising that political apathy is not necessarily neutrality; sometimes, it is an indirect surrender of one’s future to the decisions of others.
For residents who have made Lagos their home, the need to participate in its political development is even more compelling. One cannot continually enjoy the opportunities provided by a city while remaining indifferent to the decisions that determine its future. If Lagos provides the platform for one’s business to flourish, one’s career to advance and one’s family to prosper, then the responsibility to care about its governance should be equally evident. The question should not be whether one is originally from Lagos, but whether one has a stake in the continued prosperity of Lagos.
Beyond the question of participation, however, is the equally important question of continuity in governance. Lagos occupies a special position in Nigeria’s political, economic and social landscape. It is the nation’s commercial nerve centre, a major destination for domestic and international investments, a hub of innovation and enterprise, and a leading reference point in subnational governance. Its mega-city status is not merely a product of population size or geographical significance. It is also a consequence of decades of deliberate planning, institutional development, infrastructural investments and policy interventions.
Such achievements cannot be sustained through accidental governance. They require vision, consistency, institutional memory and the political will to pursue long-term development objectives beyond the immediate attractions of electoral cycles. A city as complex and economically important as Lagos cannot afford to repeatedly abandon established development trajectories simply because a new administration has assumed office. While every government should have the freedom to introduce fresh ideas and improve on existing policies, such improvements should build on established foundations rather than unnecessarily dismantle them.
This is why continuity in governance matters. The Lagos development experience demonstrates the value of successive administrations building on the foundations laid by their predecessors. From the developmental vision associated with the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the subsequent governments of Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos has maintained a broad developmental direction despite differences in leadership styles and priorities. This continuity has helped sustain conversations and investments around transportation, urban renewal, infrastructure, education, healthcare, technology and economic development.
The establishment and expansion of the Bus Rapid Transit system, the development of the Blue and Red Line rail projects, improvements in road infrastructure, the expansion of urban development initiatives and the growing attention to technology-driven governance are examples of developmental interventions that require long-term planning and sustained commitment. These projects are not necessarily completed within the lifespan of a single administration. They demand continuity of purpose, funding, institutional commitment and political leadership.
The implication is clear: the mega status of Lagos must not only be achieved; it must be maintained, strengthened and advanced. A city that aspires to compete with the world’s leading metropolitan centres cannot afford policy inconsistency, administrative discontinuity or political experimentation that disregards the peculiar demands of its development. Continuity, in this context, should not be mistaken for an endorsement of every government action or an argument against democratic competition. Rather, it is an appeal for responsible political choices that preserve what works, correct what does not and improve upon the developmental achievements already recorded.
It is within this context that the All Progressives Congress (APC) deserves the continued support of Lagos residents. The APC has, over successive administrations, provided the political platform through which much of the state’s contemporary developmental vision has been pursued. Its philosophy of progressive governance, emphasis on institutional continuity and experience in managing the peculiar complexities of Lagos make it a viable platform for sustaining and advancing the state’s development agenda.
Supporting the APC is, therefore, an opportunity to consolidate existing achievements while demanding even greater performance from those entrusted with governance. It is an opportunity to protect the developmental direction of Lagos, strengthen its institutions and ensure that ongoing projects and long-term policies are not sacrificed on the altar of political uncertainty. More importantly, such support should be accompanied by constructive criticism, civic vigilance and the expectation that elected officials will remain accountable to the people.
It is equally important to emphasise that political support should never be reduced to blind loyalty. The people of Lagos, irrespective of their ethnic origins, deserve responsive leadership, transparent administration, inclusive policies and measurable developmental outcomes. The APC must continually earn the confidence of residents through performance, accessibility and an unwavering commitment to the collective good. Continuity is most meaningful when it is accompanied by improvement, accountability and the willingness to respond to emerging realities.
As Lagos continues to expand in population, economic activities and metropolitan influence, its governance must also become more inclusive. The aspirations of residents from different backgrounds must find expression in the state’s development agenda. Their contributions to commerce, education, technology, public service, transportation, entertainment, manufacturing and other sectors are integral to the Lagos success story. A government that recognises this diversity and harnesses it as a developmental resource will be better positioned to build a more prosperous and cohesive society.
Ultimately, the future of Lagos cannot be left to a section of its population while the rest watch from the sidelines. Every resident has a stake in the quality of leadership that emerges, the policies that are implemented and the direction in which the state moves. The time has come for residents to move beyond the narrow question of who owns Lagos to the more consequential question of who is willing to contribute to its advancement.
Lagos may have its indigenous owners, but it has millions of stakeholders. Its history deserves preservation, its opportunities deserve protection and its future deserves collective investment. The responsibility to sustain its progress must therefore be shared by everyone who calls the state home.
The choice before Lagos residents is not simply about political parties or individual candidates; it is also about the kind of future they desire for the state. A future of sustained infrastructure development, economic competitiveness, institutional stability, social inclusion and global relevance requires deliberate political choices. It requires participation rather than apathy, constructive engagement rather than indifference, and continuity rather than unnecessary disruption.
Lagos is for all; therefore, all must be for Lagos. Let every resident recognise their political significance, exercise their civic responsibility and participate actively in determining the future of the state. Let us support progressive governance, consolidate the gains already recorded and demand even greater achievements from those who lead us. The Lagos of tomorrow must be better than the Lagos of today, and achieving that aspiration requires continuity in governance.
For a city that never stops dreaming, working and growing, the best way forward is to sustain the progress that has brought it this far while boldly pursuing the possibilities that lie ahead. That is the promise of continuity, and that is the collective responsibility of all who call Lagos home.
(c) 2026 Aderonke Halimat Oyefolu writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
