Lagos traffic fuels creative industry — Hamzat

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has described the state’s notorious traffic as part of the city’s lifestyle, saying prolonged journeys have inadvertently created an audience for the creative industry.

Hamzat spoke on Saturday at Podfest Naija, where he discussed the influence of Lagos’ traffic, population and fast-paced lifestyle on the city’s creative sector.

He said many Lagos residents consume podcasts and other digital content while commuting through the city’s congested roads.

“Anyone who has crossed Third Mainland Bridge at 6pm knows that Lagos traffic is not the problem, it is just a lifestyle,” Hamzat said.

He added that content creators had found an audience among commuters travelling through major routes such as Ojota and Obalende.

“So in a way, traffic has been a patron of your industry. So you must celebrate traffic. That’s why we are Lagos,” he said.

Hamzat also said Lagos’ distinctive character had provided inspiration for generations of artists, filmmakers, musicians, writers, designers and other creatives.

According to him, Lagos is increasingly telling its own story through its creative community rather than relying on outsiders to define its identity.

The deputy governor, however, urged creatives to turn their audiences into sustainable businesses, warning that popularity alone does not guarantee commercial success.

“A podcast with a million listeners and no business model is just a hobby with good microphone,” he said.

Hamzat said the Lagos State Government was supporting innovation by funding ideas and research, adding that the state was backing at least 90 research and development projects.

“Gone are the years of great ideas and no funding,” he said.

He also linked safety to the growth of the creative industry, arguing that people need to feel secure before they can freely create and tell stories.

“Creativity flourishes best when people feel safe,” he said, adding that safety and liberty were important to Lagos’ creative ecosystem.

Hamzat, who is the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Lagos in the 2027 election, also claimed that Lagos is currently the safest state in Nigeria, saying maintaining security comes at a significant cost.

He further called on Nigerians to reconnect with their cultural heritage, arguing that cultural identity remained important to the country’s development.

“One of the challenges for us as Africans, as black people, is that we have forgotten our culture,” he said.