Lagos, June 19, 2025 — Dr. Nurudeen Yekinni Agbaje, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Rural Development, has reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu administration to address the growing demands of rural communities across the state.
Dr. Agbaje made this known while fielding questions from journalists on Wednesday, June 19, 2025.
He affirmed that the Governor’s THEMES Plus development agenda continues to drive government efforts in ensuring that no rural community is left behind in the state’s development blueprint.
“The Office of Rural Development receives many requests from numerous communities on a weekly basis for government interventions,” Dr. Agbaje disclosed.
“Aside from that, whenever we attend events to either flag-off new projects or commission completed ones, we also get new requests—sometimes from the same communities or from neighbouring ones whose stakeholders are present at the events.”
He noted that this pattern has increased community engagement with the government, thanks to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s open-door policy, which allows grassroots stakeholders to access and interface directly with the Office of Rural Development.
According to him, “The open-door policy of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, to community needs has enabled the grassroots to have access to the Office of Rural Development which I preside over, and I’m always excited to receive their requests.”
Dr. Agbaje further explained that all requests received undergo a thorough and strategic evaluation process to ensure effective prioritization.
“What we do is set out time for the Office to carry out critical need assessments across those areas to determine which community is in dire need of the intervention,” he said.
“That’s when we present the request before Mr. Governor for approval.”
He praised Governor Sanwo-Olu’s responsiveness and problem-solving disposition.
“You know our Governor is always ready to proffer solutions to any requests we make,” Dr. Agbaje stated, “but we must ensure it is critical so we don’t misplace priorities.”
Despite the fact that the population of Lagos State continues to grow rapidly on a daily basis, Dr. Agbaje emphasized that the Sanwo-Olu administration remains focused on accommodating and addressing the diverse needs of all residents—urban and rural alike—through inclusive governance and sustainable development strategies.
In conclusion, the Special Adviser expressed satisfaction with the government’s pace of response to rural development needs.
“In all, we’re happy to know that even as the requests keep coming, we’re not tired of working,” he affirmed.
Dr. Agbaje’s remarks underscore the Lagos State Government’s commitment to inclusive development and its responsiveness to the needs of underserved communities, ensuring that the dividends of democracy are felt in every corner of the state.
INN-HOUSE☆ 