Lagos State Governor and Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed that Lagos remains an integral part of the South-West region, pledging continued efforts to strengthen economic integration and shared prosperity among states in the zone.
The governor made the declaration on Saturday while delivering a keynote address titled “From South-West Nigeria to the Globe: Lagos State as a Geoeconomic Hub” at the Geo-Economic Optimisation Summit Lagos 2026, organised by the Citadel School of Government in Oregun, Lagos.
According to a statement issued by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as Africa’s leading geoeconomic hub, leveraging its strengths in trade, infrastructure, finance, technology and human capital to drive economic growth across Nigeria, West Africa and beyond.
He stressed the importance of stronger collaboration among South-West states, urging leaders to embrace regional development strategies capable of unlocking greater economic opportunities.
“Think regionally, act strategically, and cooperate generously, for no single state captures the whole prize alone,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised that Lagos would continue to champion meaningful regional integration, noting that the state’s growth and development are closely tied to the progress of the wider South-West region.
“Lagos belongs fully to the South-West and will continue to engender genuine regional integration among the states,” he stated.
Highlighting Lagos’ economic significance, the governor said the state contributes roughly one-third of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and remains Africa’s second-largest metropolitan economy after Cairo, with an economic output exceeding $259.75 billion on a purchasing power parity basis.
He added that if Lagos were an independent country, it would rank among the eight largest economies in Africa. According to him, more than 90 per cent of the state’s economic output is generated from sectors such as finance, technology, trade, logistics, creative industries and the blue economy.
The governor also highlighted major infrastructure projects aimed at boosting connectivity and economic activity, including the operational Blue and Red Rail Lines, the proposed Green Line, ongoing improvements to the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, and federal-backed projects such as the Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
Sanwo-Olu renewed calls for a constitutional special status for Lagos, citing its historical role as Nigeria’s former federal capital, its strategic contribution to the national economy and the growing pressure of accommodating a significant portion of the country’s population.
“We will continue to press the case for a special status designation for Lagos, grounded in our history as a former federal territory, our strategic importance to the national economy and the immense burdens we carry. We believe Lagos deserves that recognition,” he said.
The governor further assured investors that Lagos remains open to partnerships with the private sector, neighbouring South-West states and the international community to accelerate sustainable economic development.
Speaking at the summit, Founder and Board Chairman of the Citadel School of Government, Pastor Tunde Bakare, described Lagos as a model for sub-national economic development, saying the state’s growth trajectory demonstrates what can be achieved through strategic leadership, policy continuity and sustained investment.
Also speaking, Executive Director of the University of Lagos Business School, Prof. Sunday Adebisi, said Lagos has evolved beyond its traditional role as Nigeria’s commercial capital to become a geoeconomic powerhouse with ambitions that extend across West Africa and the global economy.
