Lagos Traffic Is A Lifestyle — Hamzat Explains What He Really Meant

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has clarified his recent description of traffic congestion in the state as a “lifestyle,” saying his remarks were taken out of context and misinterpreted on social media.

Hamzat made the clarification in a video shared by the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Media, Wale Ajetunmobi, following reactions to his comments at Podfest Naija 2026.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Hamzat explained that he was speaking about storytelling and the creative industry when he used traffic on Lagos roads to illustrate how commuters consume podcasts and other digital content during their journeys.

The deputy governor said he had described Lagos as a city capable of telling its own story before referring to the experience of residents who spend long periods commuting across the metropolis.

He recalled his reference to commuters travelling across the Third Mainland Bridge during the evening rush hour, saying the example was intended to highlight the connection between traffic, commuters and content consumption.

Hamzat argued that his remarks were not meant to address road design, traffic management or the government’s position on congestion. He questioned how the statement was subsequently linked to criticism of the state’s handling of traffic.

The deputy governor specifically referenced comments by technology entrepreneur Tayo Oviosu and former governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who had separately criticised the causes and impact of traffic congestion in Lagos.

Reacting to the interpretation of his remarks, Hamzat questioned how his comments about commuters and content consumption became connected to arguments about road design.

“That’s what I said. Now, how people correlate that to say design is incredible. Really incredible,” he said.

He also criticised the way some statements are interpreted on social media, arguing that comments can lose their original meaning when excerpts are circulated without the broader context.

“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.

Hamzat said he decided to publicly clarify his comments to ensure that people understood the context in which the statement was originally made.

The controversy followed his remarks at Podfest Naija, where he spoke about Lagos, storytelling and the creative industry. During the event, he had noted that commuters often use the time spent in traffic to consume podcasts and other forms of digital content.

The clarification has since added context to the original remarks, which had generated reactions online from Nigerians debating the persistent traffic challenges in Lagos and the responsibility of authorities to improve mobility.