Lagos Launches 30-Year Investment Plan to Build Africa’s Smartest Economy
…Touts De-risked Investment Projects to Attract Global Capital
In a bold step toward future-proofing Africa’s most populous city, the Lagos State Government has unveiled a comprehensive 30-year investment growth plan aimed at transforming the megacity into a globally respected, investor-friendly 21st-century economy. The plan, supported by a freshly curated “Investment Deal Book”, outlines a pipeline of de-risked, commercially viable projects across critical sectors, ready for private capital inflow.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, disclosed this during the second edition of the Lagos Investment Summit, themed “Scaling Action: Bold Solutions Towards Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy.”
According to the governor, Lagos is shifting decisively from vision to execution, backed by coherent long-term planning, policy reform, and a digital-first approach to economic governance.
“The Lagos of today is dynamic and determined. But the Lagos of 2052 must be strategically governed, deliberately shaped, and courageously built,” Sanwo-Olu declared.
A Strategic Roadmap to 2052
The 30-year growth agenda serves as Lagos State’s investment masterplan, prioritizing:
- Infrastructure expansion (urban mobility, ports, housing)
- Energy independence (gas, renewables, grid reform)
- Human capital development (education, health, skills)
- Economic diversification (tech, agro-processing, manufacturing)
- Governance reforms (transparency, tax harmonisation, digital transformation)
This blueprint sets Lagos on a trajectory to become Africa’s most attractive destination for institutional investors, development finance, and venture capital, while also offering long-term clarity to local entrepreneurs and MSMEs.
The Lagos Investment Deal Book: De-risked and Ready
One of the summit’s major highlights was the launch of the Lagos Investment Deal Book—a curated portfolio of vetted, commercially viable, and policy-aligned projects.
From green energy infrastructure to logistics hubs, mixed-use real estate, tech parks, agri-processing zones, and healthcare systems—the Deal Book outlines opportunities that align with both state priorities and investor return expectations.
“Each listed project is ready for implementation, supported by enabling policies, and structured for long-term capital,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The initiative also includes dedicated deal rooms—confidential spaces where project developers, financiers, multilateral agencies, and regulators can meet, negotiate, and structure bankable deals in real-time.
From Policy Talk to Tangible Action
Folashade Ambrose, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, emphasized that the summit signals a shift from concepts to action, and from fragmented transactions to systemic investment coordination.
“Lagos is Africa’s commercial heartbeat and a beacon of industrial innovation. This plan marks a turning point for structural transformation,” she said.
She highlighted the government’s investor-centric reforms including:
- Tax harmonisation across MDAs
- Digital land titling and GIS reforms
- PPP-friendly procurement frameworks
- Streamlined licensing and post-investment support through LIPA
Ambrose also reaffirmed the readiness of her ministry and the Lagos State Investment Promotion Agency (LIPA) to provide aftercare, remove bureaucratic bottlenecks, and support investors throughout the life cycle of their projects.
Building the Lagos of the Future
With a population projected to exceed 35 million by 2050, Lagos is taking steps to avoid the pitfalls of unmanaged urbanisation by anchoring its development on a clear investment architecture.
Already contributing over 30% of Nigeria’s GDP, the state is positioning itself not just as a commercial hub but as a launchpad for pan-African innovation and enterprise.
“Lagos is open for business,” Sanwo-Olu affirmed. “We will not wait for the future—we are building it with resolve, clarity, and courage.”
Why This Matters
For global investors seeking emerging market opportunities with scale, stability, and strategy, Lagos is making its pitch as Africa’s next investment magnet—offering structured projects, institutional backing, and measurable outcomes.
With its bold 30-year plan and growing investor infrastructure, Lagos is staking its claim as not just Nigeria’s economic capital, but Africa’s next great global city.
