LGSC Holds Summit To Strengthen Grassroots Governance, Sustainable Development In Lagos

Yomi Durojaye 

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening grassroots governance and enhancing service delivery across Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state. 

LGSC Holds Summit To Strengthen Grassroots Governance, Sustainable Development  In Lagos

Speaking at the 2025 Local Government Summit organised by the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), with the theme "Strengthening Grassroots Governance and Service Delivery in Local Government and Local Council Development Areas," Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the Commission for the summit, emphasising its role in deepening discussions on local governance. 

The Governor, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described Local Governments and LCDAs as the “bedrock of governance and development,” underscoring their critical function in bridging the gap between government and the people. 

He stated that grassroots governance must be people-centred, inclusive, and focused on delivering essential services efficiently. “As the closest tier of government to the people, Local Governments have a unique responsibility to lead in fostering inclusive development, promoting community participation, and delivering critical services effectively,” Sanwo-Olu said. 

Mr. Governor highlighted his administration’s efforts through the THEMES Plus Agenda, which prioritises infrastructure development, policy reforms, and capacity building to strengthen local governance. He cited the ongoing project commissioning across various LGAs and LCDAs as proof of the State’s commitment to making life more meaningful for residents. 

In his words, “This summit provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on challenges, share best practices, and collectively chart a way forward. I urge all participants to focus on actionable outcomes that will strengthen grassroots governance and instil public confidence in our Local Governments”.

Looking ahead to the upcoming local government elections, Sanwo-Olu emphasised the importance of free, fair, and credible polls, urging all political actors to uphold democratic values. “Our goal is Lagos where every citizen, regardless of their background, has access to quality services and opportunities. We envision a Lagos where grassroots governance is synonymous with transparency, accountability, and inclusivity,” he added. 

Also speaking at the Summit, held recently in the Lekki area of the State, Hon. Kamal Bayewu stressed the pivotal role of local councils as the foundation of socio-economic development in Lagos State. He described the summit as a significant platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of innovative ideas aimed at repositioning grassroots governance as the cornerstone of sustainable development.

 “With the theme ‘Strengthening Grassroots Governance and Service Delivery in Local Government and Local Council Development Areas’, this summit is not just an event; it is a platform for reflection, dialogue, and actionable strategies to improve service delivery and enhance the overall quality of life for Lagos residents”, the Chairman stated. 

Commending the visionary leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, he acknowledged the administration’s unwavering dedication to grassroots development through capacity building, infrastructure projects, and innovative policies that empower local councils. 

He also noted the importance of inclusive governance models that ensure no citizen is left behind. “Our goal is to create a Lagos where every resident, regardless of location or status, has access to quality services, equitable development, and a voice in governance,” he said. The Chairman urged participants at the Summit to engage actively in discussions, as the ideas generated at the forum would serve as a roadmap for the future of grassroots governance in Lagos State. 

Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Mrs. Abosede George, provided a comprehensive recap of the last summit, highlighting key resolutions and progress made in strengthening grassroots governance. 

She noted that previous deliberations had led to significant policy adjustments and strategic interventions aimed at improving service delivery at the local government level. According to her, one of the major outcomes was the adoption of capacity-building programmes for council officials, which have enhanced their efficiency in addressing the needs of the people. 

Mrs. George emphasised the importance of periodic engagements such as the Local Government Summit, stating that these gatherings serve as a critical platform for evaluating policies, sharing best practices, and addressing emerging challenges in local administration. The summit is expected to produce actionable strategies that will further enhance governance and service delivery across Lagos State. 

One of the facilitators at the event and former Chairman of the LGSC, Alhaji Babatunde Rotinwa outlined a comprehensive approach to improving governance and service delivery at the grassroots level in his presentation, emphasising the need for accountability, innovation, and citizen engagement. 

Time For Nigeria To Broaden Export Products Beyond Oil - Ambode

...Says Export Inflow At LFZ To Hit $6Billion By 2020

…Advocates 25-Year National Policy On Export Promotion



Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday said the export inflow at the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) in Ibeju Lekki area of the State is projected to hit over $6billion (about N2.159trillion) by 2020, saying it was time for Nigeria to develop sustainable roadmap to rev up export with particular focus on multi-sector products far beyond oil.

Speaking at the 2nd National Committee Meeting on Export Promotion of the National Economic Council (NEC) held in Lagos, Governor Ambode said beyond oil, it was now important for the country to put in place infrastructure and other initiatives to support other sectors with the view to preparing them for export.   



He said already, the Lagos State Government had keyed into several export-oriented initiatives such as One-State One-Product Initiative, adding that it was gratifying to note that tremendous progress had been made in that regard.



“Our efforts in this area include the development of Lekki Free Zone as a one-stop export processing zone and we are happy to report that we have made tremendous progress in this particular export zone and I hope participants would have the time to see what it is that is actually going on in that place.



“Just to give you a clearer picture of what we are saying. At the end of 2020 when the investment of the Dangote Industries and other Deep Seaport that we are putting in that place will fully come on stream, the export inflow that we are projecting for that place is over $6billion and that is just the way to go,” Governor Ambode said.



He said through the export initiatives being spearheaded and monitored by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the State Government had identified and commenced the process of developing three key commodities in which the State has comparative and competitive advantage including Coconut, Fish and Vegetables.



“We plan to facilitate the development of these commodities into exportable products. Our export promotion initiatives also include export aggregators designed to boost production capacities of our indigenous micro small and medium industries. The objective is to create locally made products and services that not only satisfy local market but meet competitive export demand.



“We have also developed enterprise zone, small scale industrial estate and light industrial parks in different parts of this State to provide business accommodation and also factory spaces, support made-in-Lagos campaign and to also enhance market access for our MSMEs,” the Governor said.



He said the initiatives were some of the programmes of the State Government to support the Zero Oil plan of the Federal Government, just as he urged participants at the meeting to come up with a viable and sustainable agenda that would at the end of the day help in achieving Nigeria’s economic rebirth without reliance on oil.



While alluding to the visit of French President, Mr Emmanuel Macron to Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, the Governor said the development signposts the need for the country to develop other sectors of the economy especially the creative industry, among others.



“For me, the visit is clear that Afrobeat is a product that we can export but not only that, what about other things such as intellectual property and others that we need to harness to create a final product of our export policy. What about fashion? What about arts? There are lots of export products that we can export beyond Agriculture.



“However, before we can do that, we must put in place the infrastructure and the framework to support these industries and that is the core of this whole story. The message here is that let us expand the scope of our export considerations and increase the wealth of our nation.



“If one of the most powerful men in the world is a lover of our music and culture, then we must look inwards and find ways to export this. Our State is big on arts and entertainment and we believe strongly that this is a very lucrative avenue to create wealth and employment for our people,” Governor Ambode said.



According to the Governor, the economic indicators of the country were such that reliance on oil without planning for the future was dangerous, and so something urgent must be done to promote other sectors.



“For all the years, if you say oil is 90 per cent of what our economy is all about, if there is a flip in the price of oil, what happens to 190 million people on just one product? Who does that? So, the idea is this, if in 2050, Nigeria is targeted to be the third largest country in the world with 400million people and then maybe Lagos population by then will be about 50million people, then there is going to be a problem if by now we are not thinking about other products.



“And then, who cares about oil anyway when there are people using vehicles without oil and so something must be wrong if we are not thinking 2050 in 2018. We have been speaking about this and it is almost sounding like a broken record but if something goes wrong with oil, what are we doing,” he queried.



The Governor said though the Federal Government had shown leadership and good examples about rice production, but that it was important to come up with a national policy on export to create a roadmap to engender sustainable promotion of export.



“Beyond agric product and others, this is one singular opportunity for us to create a roadmap of an export policy that will be known as the National Policy on Export for the next 25 years which each State will key into and follow. The whole message is that we need to be broader in our approach. I believe strongly that the export policy strategy is another way to put Nigeria on the global map and that is the only way we can continue to bring ourselves together to promote export,” he said.



Besides, Governor Ambode advocated synergy among all the Federal Government agencies and State Governments to promote export, while also calling on Nigeria to immediately ratify the agreement on African Continental Free Trade Area which had already been signed by 49 out of 55 countries, adding: “Nigeria must show leadership because the whole of Africa is waiting for us to show leadership and we must drive the economy of the continent.”



Earlier, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Mr Olusegun Awolowo called on State Governments to seriously consider bringing export products in their respective States for the Committee on Export Promotion to look at, saying such was important going forward.