The Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has criticised the State Government over what he described as poor planning and a lack of sensitivity to the welfare of citizens during infrastructure projects.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Rhodes-Vivour condemned the prevailing governance mindset in Lagos and across Nigeria, where leaders act as though they are doing citizens a favor by providing basic services rather than prioritizing their well-being.
“In Lagos and in Nigeria as a whole, the consciousness of governance is flawed. Those at the helm of affairs act like they’re doing us a favor by offering leadership or services,” he said. “That kind of mindset completely affects planning and execution.”
Citing the recent disruptions caused by the repair of a bridge in Lagos, Rhodes-Vivour argued that the government could have minimized public inconvenience with better planning. He referenced the San Yuan Bridge project in Beijing, China, which involved dismantling and replacing a 1,300-ton bridge in just 43 hours back in 2015.
“It’s not about new technology. It’s about the thinking and consciousness that puts the citizen’s convenience first,” he said. “The government failed in scenario planning. Coming out to apologize after the chaos is not enough. This suffering could have been avoided.”
He also criticized the government’s communication strategy, noting that proper notifications and public engagement should have occurred well in advance—not just a few days before a major project that affects millions of people.
“This is a state of over 22 million people. You can’t just drop a notice on a Monday and expect everyone to adapt,” he said. “Government collects data on traffic. They knew what the impact would be. They should have planned better.”
Rhodes-Vivour also touched on the broader issue of Lagos’ urban planning and transport connectivity. He emphasized the need for decentralization, better housing, and expanded use of water transportation as part of a more holistic urban development strategy.
“We need a Lagos where people don’t have to travel across the city to work or access services. Create hubs, connect them with multi-modal transport, and reduce the pressure on major roads,” he said. “What we’ve seen is failure—failure in planning, in execution, in communication, and most importantly, in putting the people first.”
Rhodes-Vivour’s remarks come amid growing public frustration over traffic gridlocks and poor urban planning in Lagos, with many residents calling for more inclusive and citizen-focused governance.
