The Lagos State chapter of the City Boy Movement has felicitated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerians and Lagos residents on the occasion of the country’s 66th Independence anniversary, praising the administration’s economic and youth-focused reforms.

In a goodwill message issued by the movement’s Lagos director, Barrister Moyosore Ogunlewe, the group said the Tinubu administration had recorded progress in infrastructure, economic diversification, youth empowerment and governance since assuming office.

Ogunlewe, who also serves as Zonal Director, Youth Mobilisation, South-West of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, acknowledged that the President was not perfect but argued that his administration had demonstrated the political will to tackle some of the country’s longstanding challenges.

“Like no one is perfect, President Tinubu is not perfect. Nevertheless, he has remained a kind-hearted leader with an exceptional eye for talents, putting round pegs in round holes,” he said.

He added that, in his view, the administration had demonstrated “vision and foresight” through the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The movement highlighted several youth-focused initiatives, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, 3 Million Technical Talent programme, Technical and Vocational Education and Training initiatives, NiYA, YouthCred, CrediCorp, the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, iDICE and programmes implemented through SMEDAN.

Some of these initiatives have been publicly identified by the Federal Government as part of its efforts to expand access to education, digital skills, technical training, entrepreneurship and financing for young Nigerians. The government said in September that it was also targeting five million young Nigerians through skills acquisition and empowerment programmes under its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy.

Ogunlewe also cited the administration’s electricity-sector reforms, data protection legislation, economic reforms and investments in healthcare and education as areas where he said the government had made progress.

He described the removal of petrol subsidy as a bold decision, arguing that it had reduced opportunities for corruption and freed government resources for development.

The subsidy removal, along with foreign exchange and other fiscal reforms, has remained one of the most significant and controversial parts of the Tinubu administration’s economic programme. While the government has argued that the measures were necessary to stabilise the economy, the reforms have also contributed to significant cost-of-living pressures, with the International Monetary Fund acknowledging improved macroeconomic outcomes while noting that conditions remain difficult for many Nigerians.

On the economy, Ogunlewe said the reforms were attracting investment, supporting job creation and laying the foundation for diversification.

The Presidency has similarly pointed to economic growth, improved external reserves, increased investment and reforms in the foreign exchange, fiscal and financial sectors as signs of progress. In the second quarter of 2026, Nigeria’s economy recorded 4.43 per cent year-on-year growth, according to figures cited by the President.

On security, the City Boy Movement said the administration had strengthened intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration while implementing social intervention programmes aimed at reducing hardship.

Ogunlewe also linked his assessment of Tinubu’s administration to his experience at the grassroots, saying he had learnt from the President’s approach to governance while bringing government closer to residents in Kosofe Local Government.

“I have learned a great deal from our President by bringing governance to our people in Kosofe Local Government – transparency, timely service delivery and cost-effectiveness,” he said.

The Lagos chapter of the movement was inaugurated in July with a stated focus on youth and grassroots mobilisation. At the inauguration, Ogunlewe said the organisation intended to promote youth participation, national unity and civic engagement beyond electoral campaigns.

The group has also openly positioned itself as a supporter of Tinubu’s administration and its 2027 re-election bid. The movement’s national leadership previously told the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, that it was committed to mobilising support for the administration’s programmes and initiatives.

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, Ogunlewe called for continuity of the administration’s policies, saying he believed Tinubu’s record warranted another term in office.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the best for a united Nigeria at this critical point in our 66-year history. He deserves our full support for a second term to secure a brighter future and the continuity of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

The statement was signed by Hon. Kanbi Owolabi, Assistant Director, Print Media, City Boy Movement, Lagos State Chapter.

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Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Rotimi Odunaike, has declared that improving the quality of life of residents will be the defining priority of his administration, arguing that governance should ultimately be measured by how people live, work and move around the state.

Odunaike made the remarks while speaking on Daily Digest with Jimi Disu on Nigeria Info, where he said his decision to contest the 2027 governorship election was inspired by his lifelong connection to Lagos and his concern over what he described as the steady decline in residents’ everyday living conditions.

“Lagos raised me,” he said, reflecting on his childhood in the state before spending part of his professional career abroad.

According to him, the Lagos he grew up in was not without challenges, but it offered a better quality of life than many residents experience today.

He said his focus was not on headline economic figures but on the daily realities confronting ordinary Lagosians.

“When I look at the state of things and the quality of life, I’m not talking about numbers and I’m not talking about statistics. I’m talking about the impact to Lagosians on their quality of life,” he said.

Using his journey to the radio station as an example, Odunaike said he left his home in Ikeja before 7 a.m. but still spent about an hour getting to the studio.

“That is not living. That is surviving. It’s not even thriving,” he added.

The Labour Party candidate argued that mobility should be treated as a quality-of-life issue rather than merely a transport challenge, saying efficient movement across Lagos would expand access to jobs, businesses and economic opportunities.

He also linked poor infrastructure and environmental challenges to the struggles of informal-sector workers, particularly traders whose businesses are often disrupted by flooding and other urban problems.

According to Odunaike, Lagos should demonstrate its reputation as the “Centre of Excellence” through the actual delivery of quality governance, improved mobility, affordable housing, a stronger economy and better public services.

Rather than centring his campaign on personalities, he said his ambition is to present a people-focused vision for Lagos built on values, service and leadership.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Odunaike credited the discipline instilled by his mother, a Nigerian Army officer, and his years in military schools for shaping his understanding of public service.

He argued that strong values remain the foundation of effective leadership, adding that although people may face challenges that test their principles, a deeply rooted value system ultimately guides them back to their core.

“At the end of the day, it is about them,” he said, referring to the people of Lagos.