Lagos Deputy Governor Hamzat clarifies “traffic as lifestyle” remark after backlash

Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has clarified his comment describing traffic as a lifestyle, saying the remark was taken out of context. Read More: https://punchng.com/hamzat-clarifies-lagos-traffic-as-lifestyle-comment-amid-backlash/

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has defended his description of the state’s traffic congestion as a “lifestyle,” insisting the remark was taken out of context and misinterpreted on social media.Hamzat issued the clarification in a video shared on Sunday via the X account of Wale Ajetunmobi, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Media. The comments followed widespread criticism of remarks he made at Podfest Naija 2026.He explained that the statement came during a speech on storytelling and the creative industry. He used Lagos traffic to illustrate how commuters consume podcasts and other digital content while stuck on the roads.Reading excerpts from his speech, Hamzat said he had described Lagos as “the city that tells its own story” and noted that traffic had become part of the daily experience of many residents. He quoted himself as saying: “Anyone who has crossed Third Mainland Bridge at 6pm going from VI to Mainland knows that Lagos traffic is not just a problem, it is becoming our lifestyle.”The deputy governor stressed that the remarks were meant to highlight the link between traffic, commuting and content consumption, not to comment on road design or signal government acceptance of congestion.He questioned how his words were tied to criticisms from tech entrepreneur Tayo Oviosu, who said “Lagos traffic is caused by poor road design, not economic activities,” and former governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who argued that “traffic in Lagos should not be tolerated as a lifestyle” and was “a major drain on productivity.”“That’s what I said. Now, how people correlate that to say design is incredible. Really incredible,” Hamzat said. He added: “So it seems to me that when people go on social media, they don’t read what people say. And that’s the problem.”Hamzat said he chose to explain the context publicly so people could better understand his original point.Olusesan Daini, Director of the New Media Directorate for the joint PBAT-KOH Lagos State Campaign Council, also defended the deputy governor. In a statement on X, Daini said the remarks were deliberately taken out of context and were not a celebration of traffic or a sign that the government was comfortable with residents’ inconvenience.“Recognising that traffic has become part of daily life is not the same as accepting it as the ideal. It is simply acknowledging the realities of a rapidly growing megacity while working continuously to improve mobility,” Daini stated.He pointed to ongoing government efforts, including rail and water transport projects, road construction, junction improvements, intelligent traffic systems and LASTMA deployment. Daini urged that public debate should focus on the full context of statements rather than selective excerpts.Nigerian Eye had earlier reported Hamzat’s original comments at Podfest Naija 2026, where he discussed storytelling and how long journeys fuel consumption of podcasts and creative content. The remarks sparked strong social media reactions, with many criticising the “lifestyle” framing and questioning the state’s handling of congestion.