Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has responded to criticism over his recent comments on traffic in the state, saying parts of his speech were taken out of context.
Hamzat addressed the issue at an event on Sunday evening, following reactions to remarks he made at the 2026 PodFest Naija in Lagos. Speaking at the creative industry event on Friday, Hamzat said Lagos traffic had become part of the city's lifestyle and, unexpectedly, contributed to content consumption.
He said many Lagos residents consume podcasts and other forms of entertainment while commuting, particularly along busy routes such as Ojota to Obalende and the Third Mainland Bridge.
“Anyone who has crossed the Third Mainland Bridge at 6 pm knows that Lagos traffic is not a problem; it’s just a lifestyle,” Hamzat said.
He also told the creatives at the event that traffic had become a patron of their industry because residents often consume their content while stuck on the road.
“So, in a way, traffic has been the patron of your industry. So you must celebrate traffic; that’s why we are Lagos.”
The remarks generated reactions, including criticism from the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who has made traffic and other challenges in Lagos part of his campaign messaging.
Rhodes-Vivour recently identified flooding, housing and traffic among issues affecting Lagos residents.
Responding to the reactions, Hamzat said people should consider the broader context of his speech.
“What I said in my speech vs. what people took out of context,” the deputy governor said while responding to the controversy.
Hamzat's original speech was largely focused on Lagos' creative industry and how the city's unique environment has influenced content creation.
He said Lagos was increasingly telling its own story through podcasters, filmmakers, musicians, writers, designers, developers and entrepreneurs.
The deputy governor also urged creatives to build sustainable businesses around their work, protect their intellectual property and develop business models that can turn audiences into revenue.
The controversy over the traffic comments comes as Hamzat, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, and Rhodes-Vivour, the ADC candidate, prepare for the 2027 Lagos governorship contest.
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