By Matthew Johnson

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement ,APM, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, has said Lagos needs a “servant-leader” rather than another ruler to address the challenges confronting the state.

Adeoye disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying his decision to contest the governorship was motivated by a desire to provide what he described as quality and accountable leadership.
“Lagos does not need another ruler. Lagos needs a servant-leader. A leader who cares, a leader who listens, a leader who delivers,” he said.

Adeoye said his proposed administration would implement the “Atunto Eko” agenda, which he said would focus on housing, poverty reduction, job creation, healthcare, education, the environment, infrastructure, transportation and security.

On housing, he said Lagos had a deficit of more than three million units, adding that residents were often required to pay up to two years’ rent in advance.
He highlighted some of his star projects to be; building of 50,000 affordable rent-to-own homes within four years in Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry, Alimosho and Ibeju-Lekki, introducing a Lagos rent protection scheme aimed at promoting monthly rent payments and reforming land administration.

Industrial clusters would be established in Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe and Mainland/Yaba, focusing on coconut and aquaculture, building materials, food processing, fashion, film and technology. Rebuild 20 major markets with facilities including solar power, cold rooms and creches.

For poverty reduction and wealth creation, Adeoye proposed a N10 billion revolving microcredit fund, to be known as Ekoowo, for market women, artisans, fishermen and nano-businesses.
He said the fund would provide loans at single-digit interest rates through cooperatives.

On employment, he said the clusters would be provided with power, internet connectivity and off-taker guarantees, with a target of creating 100,000 direct jobs within two years.

Adeoye said his proposed Eko Skill Code would train 20,000 youths annually in areas such as solar installation, plumbing, coding and creative skills and link them with employment opportunities.

On healthcare, he pledged to upgrade 250 primary healthcare centres to 24-hour facilities equipped with personnel, drugs, solar power and ambulances.
He also proposed an Eko Health Card, a N1, 000 monthly contributory schemes for informal-sector workers to access basic healthcare, drugs and emergency services.
He said antenatal care and childbirth would be free in all public hospitals under his administration.

Adeoye said his administration would reform the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to promote waste sorting at source, reward households for recyclable plastics and create 15,000 jobs in recycling and composting. He promised to clear primary drainage channels and construct 100 kilometres of lined drains to address flooding.

In education, he pledged to revive 10 technical colleges, provide free school meals sourced from local farmers, increase teachers’ welfare by 30 per cent and introduce solar-powered digital classrooms in public secondary schools.

On transportation and infrastructure, Adeoye said he would repair 500 inner roads through direct labour and introduce a single ticketing system covering BRT, the Blue Line and ferries.
He also promised to expand water transportation to Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry. On security, he proposed community policing, solar-powered streetlights and an Eko Safety App for emergency response.

Adeoye said Lagos was not broke but had suffered from what he described as a lack of accountability.
He pledged to publish government contracts and expenditures online every month to enable residents to monitor public spending.

The APM candidate also expressed support for the party’s presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, saying his proposed agenda for Lagos was aligned with Makinde’s vision for Nigeria.
Adeoye cited Makinde’s administration in Oyo State as an example of what he described as servant leadership, pointing to the payment of salaries, increased internally generated revenue, development of an agribusiness industrial hub, improvements in schools and hospitals, and road projects.

He said Makinde could address challenges including insecurity, food insecurity, youth unemployment, high living costs and inadequate power supply if elected president.
“If Makinde can fix Oyo, he can fix Nigeria,” Adeoye said.

He urged Lagos residents to vote for the APM in the 2027 elections, saying the party would “reset Lagos and reset Nigeria”.