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By Maduka Nweke
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described infrastructure as the backbone shaping real estate development, construction activity and long-term economic prosperity, saying it as the “architecture of sustainable development.”
The Governor made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Nigeria Construction and Real Estate Outlook Conference, hosted by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Nigeria Group, in Lagos.
Using Lagos as a practical case study, Sanwo-Olu highlighted that Africa’s largest city continues to experience rapid population growth, which presents both challenges and opportunities for urban planning and investment. He emphasised that Lagos has deliberately prioritised infrastructure as a strategic, long-term investment to unlock private-sector confidence.
“Infrastructure is not an accessory to growth; it is its architecture. It determines where value emerges, how cities expand, and whether growth is inclusive or fragile,” he said.
Represented at the event by the Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, the Governor noted that in an increasingly competitive global investment environment, professionalism, transparency, and integrity in the built environment are decisive factors for attracting capital and sustaining growth. He commended RICS for its global leadership and professional standards, which continue to add value to stakeholders across the real estate and construction sectors.
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Sanwo-Olu cited the Lagos Rail Mass Transit network, major road and bridge projects, and integrated transport planning as key drivers reshaping land use, opening new real estate corridors, reducing congestion costs, and promoting transit-oriented development. He stressed that strong institutions are crucial to making infrastructure projects investable, highlighting reforms in land administration, planning approvals, and public-private partnership frameworks that have improved certainty, reduced risk, and accelerated project delivery.
“These achievements reflect continuity of vision across successive administrations and a clear understanding that infrastructure is the strongest signal of government credibility and long-term intent,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Governor expressed optimism for Nigeria’s construction and real estate outlook in 2026. He identified emerging opportunities in transit-oriented development, urban regeneration, affordable housing, logistics and industrial parks, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
For Lagos State specifically, he outlined priorities including deepening infrastructure delivery, strengthening institutions, expanding climate-adaptive investments, improving data-driven planning systems, and fostering innovation in construction methods through stronger partnerships with the private sector and professional bodies.
He also underscored the importance of chartered surveyors and built-environment professionals in safeguarding value, ensuring accountability, and aligning development with long-term economic and social outcomes. “In a global investment environment where trust is currency, your role directly influences where capital flows and where cities thrive,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu concluded by reaffirming Lagos State’s commitment to leading by example in sustainable urban development and thanked RICS Nigeria Group for its continued contributions to shaping the country’s built environment.
The 2026 RICS Conference drew key stakeholders, including Dr. Adekunle Olayinka, Special Adviser, Office of Works; Mr. Adesina Ayokunnu, Special Adviser to the Governor, Office of the State Surveyor General; chartered surveyors, real estate professionals, construction experts, policymakers, academics, and investors. The forum served as a platform for in-depth discussions on emerging trends, policy reforms, investment opportunities, and the future of Nigeria’s construction and real estate sector.
