Sanwo-Olu: Lagos wants better infrastructure and easier trade to tap AfCFTA gains

By: Tunji Okunlola

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says investing in infrastructure, supporting entrepreneurs and connecting markets will create jobs and give businesses more room to grow, as Nigeria looks to benefit from regional growth corridors and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

In a post on X, the governor said he shared his thoughts on these issues at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, including what they mean for Lagos and Nigeria’s economic future. He described Lagos as a place where ideas and opportunities meet.

Infrastructure

Sanwo-Olu said the right investments include better roads and rail links, more efficient ports, reliable power and broadband, and logistics hubs that move goods faster from producers to consumers.

Support for businesses

He called for easier access to finance, simpler digital services and targeted help for small and medium-sized enterprises. He said that when government, banks and private investors work together, local businesses can raise production, meet global standards and compete across Africa.

Trade across borders

The governor also called for simpler customs processes, better one-stop border posts and shared standards between countries. He said that making the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and AfCFTA work better would help Nigerian products reach more African markets, while efficient transport corridors would cut delays and the cost of doing business.

He said his focus in Lagos is to make trade easier and ensure that economic growth improves everyday life for Lagosians. That, he said, is how to build a stronger, more productive Nigeria and place Lagos at the centre of Africa’s next big economic opportunity.