Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate Laja Adeoye has officially launched his “Reset Lagos” campaign, centering his economic agenda on aggressive job creation and a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s housing sector to support its rapidly growing population. The campaign launch, which took place ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle, signals a push for alternative economic management in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre.
Adeoye’s platform is built on the premise that the current economic trajectory of Lagos State requires a fundamental “reset” to bridge the gap between its status as a leading African economy and the daily realities of its residents. Central to this vision is a plan to stimulate the labour market through targeted support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and a revitalised approach to urban development.
Lagos remains Nigeria’s most significant economic engine, contributing more than 25% to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, the state continues to grapple with a massive infrastructure deficit and an unemployment rate that mirrors national trends. According to initial reports on the campaign launch, Adeoye argued that the wealth of the state must be more effectively leveraged to create sustainable livelihoods for the youth population.
The APM candidate highlighted that the “Reset Lagos” mantra is not merely a political slogan but a policy framework intended to address structural bottlenecks in the state’s bureaucracy. He noted that many businesses in the state are currently stifled by multiple taxation and a lack of access to affordable credit, issues he intends to address through a more business-friendly regulatory environment.
Addressing the Lagos Housing Crisis and SME Growth
A primary pillar of the Adeoye campaign is the mitigation of the chronic housing deficit in Lagos, which experts estimate at several million units. The candidate proposed a shift away from luxury developments toward mass-market social housing that is accessible to middle- and low-income earners. This strategy involves partnering with private developers to reduce the cost of building materials and streamline the process of obtaining land titles and building permits.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that the construction and real estate sectors are critical drivers of urban economies. Adeoye intends to use housing projects as a dual-purpose tool: providing shelter while simultaneously creating thousands of technical and artisanal jobs. By incentivising the use of locally sourced materials, the campaign aims to stimulate the manufacturing value chain within the state.
The campaign’s job creation strategy also focuses on the burgeoning technology sector. Adeoye suggested that Lagos should move beyond being a consumer of technology to becoming a primary hub for digital production and outsourcing. This would involve the establishment of tech innovation hubs in less developed parts of the state, ensuring that the economic benefits of the “Silicon Lagoon” are distributed more equitably across the five divisions of Lagos.
Regarding public finance, the APM candidate called for greater transparency in the management of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). While the Lagos State Government has consistently led the country in revenue generation, Adeoye argued that the impact of these funds on public infrastructure such as drainage, inner-city roads, and healthcare has remained insufficient in several critical areas.
The “Reset Lagos” campaign also touches on the necessity of reforming the transportation sector, which is inextricably linked to economic productivity. Adeoye proposed a more integrated multi-modal transport system that prioritises water transportation and rail to reduce the billions of naira lost annually to traffic congestion in the metropolis. Such reforms are expected to lower the cost of logistics for businesses operating within the state.
As the campaign progresses, the APM is expected to release a detailed manifesto outlining the specific fiscal policies and legislative changes required to implement these proposals. The success of such an ambitious “reset” will depend heavily on the candidate’s ability to attract private sector confidence and manage the state’s significant debt profile while maintaining an aggressive developmental agenda.
The launch of the Adeoye campaign adds a new dimension to the political discourse in Lagos, forcing a sharper focus on economic delivery and urban renewal. Investors and market observers will be closely monitoring how these proposals are received by the electorate and whether they compel the current administration to accelerate existing projects or introduce new economic interventions before the next election.
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