By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described Lagos as a “Yoruba United States” — a symbol of unity, diversity, and progress that continues to serve as a model for Nigeria’s growth.
Sanwo-Olu made the remark on Wednesday at the South-West Citizen-Government Engagement Summit held in Akure, Ondo State.
The gathering brought together leading figures from across the South-West, including governors, traditional rulers, business leaders, and political stakeholders.
“I stand here not only as a humble leader among the South-West governors, but as the governor of the largest population in our country, the economic and commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, the state of aquatic splendour that accommodates every tribe, religion, and race. Yet, above all, Lagos stands as a Yoruba United States, a state that continues to reinvent itself and set the pace for the nation,” Sanwo-Olu said.
In a statement shared via his social media platforms, the governor urged the South-West region to take charge of Nigeria’s renewal by fostering unity, collaboration, and a shared vision for progress.
He commended the creation of the South-West Development Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and backed by the National Assembly, describing it as a new avenue to revive the kind of regional development championed by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“With the South-West Development Commission, we now have a platform to plan and deliver the kind of regional progress that once defined our region under Chief Awolowo,” he stated.
Sanwo-Olu also applauded President Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the policies were restoring investor confidence and positioning the country for renewed growth.
“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is regaining stability and optimism. His reforms are working, the economy is growing, investment is returning, and the future looks brighter,” the governor said.
He pointed out that major infrastructure projects in Lagos, such as the Fourth Mainland Bridge, the Green Line Rail Project, and the Lekki International Airport, are expected to benefit significantly from the renewed investor confidence.
Reaffirming the South-West’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation, Sanwo-Olu declared: “The South-West can, and must, lead Nigeria’s renewal. The spirit of innovation and courage that shaped our past still lives within us today, and together, we will rise to this moment.”