Nigerians have taken to social media to criticise Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, after he described the state’s notorious traffic congestion as a “lifestyle.”
Hamzat made the remark on Friday at PODFEST Naija 2026, where he spoke about the relationship between Lagos traffic and the state’s creative industry. He said the long hours spent by commuters on the roads had created an audience for podcasts, music, films and other forms of content.
Reflecting on Lagos’ reputation for traffic, crowds and congestion, Hamzat said some of the reports about the city were not entirely wrong, but argued that traffic had become part of the everyday Lagos experience.
According to him: “The story of Lagos was often told by other people. It was told in newspaper headlines about traffic, about crowd, about chaos. Some of those stories were not entirely wrong.
“Anyone who has crossed Third Mainland Bridge at 6 p.m. knows that Lagos traffic is not a problem; it’s just a lifestyle,” he said.
He added that many people consume creative content while travelling between Ojota and Obalende, describing traffic as “the patron” of the creative industry.
“So, you must celebrate traffic, that’s why we’re Lagos,” Hamzat said.
“Anyone who has crossed Third Mainland Bridge at 6 p.m. knows that Lagos traffic is not a problem; it is just a lifestyle.”
At PODFEST Naija 2026, Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat says the city’s traffic has become part of the everyday experiences that shape Lagos’… pic.twitter.com/4qiwWEPjPj
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) September 26, 2026
The comment, however, triggered strong reactions on social media, with several Nigerians arguing that traffic congestion causes serious hardship and should not be presented as something to celebrate.
One X user, @yung_makel40145, wrote, “Lolz, man say make we celebrate Traffic. Everyday these guys keep showing us different forms/levels of foolishness.”
Another user, @Martinez3sx, questioned how Hamzat could describe traffic as a lifestyle, writing, “Bro legit said they should celebrate traffic because they are Lagosians. How do they get away with all of this?”
Similarly, @kingolatunji_ asked whether Hamzat endorsed the situation despite the consequences of traffic congestion, including delayed emergency response, risks faced by children selling goods on the roads and reported cases of robbery.
@cheriff4life also argued that suffering should not be regarded as a lifestyle, describing it as a consequence of what the user characterised as dysfunctional policies.
Another commenter, @ermarc2000, described Hamzat’s remark as a justification for what the user considered leadership failure, arguing that Lagos traffic should be treated as a governance challenge rather than a cultural feature.
@fk149 wrote that the more Hamzat speaks, the more, in the user’s view, he exposes himself as being disconnected from the daily realities faced by Lagos residents.
Meanwhile, @baba_zee1 questioned the effect of prolonged traffic on productivity, rest and safety, asking whether such conditions would similarly be accepted in other countries.
Another commenter, @Brice_Wayne_05, compared Lagos with London and argued that the deputy governor should have addressed how to solve the traffic problem rather than describe it as a lifestyle.
For @AbidemiSofuyi, the impact was personal, claiming that traffic had caused the user to miss a trip to Ghana before describing Hamzat as “a joker.”
Some other commenters also linked the remark to the 2027 governorship election, with @PhysDad urging Lagos residents to pay attention to the implications of Hamzat’s statement, while @kilzthegreat criticised the state of traffic around Oshodi and questioned the prospect of Hamzat becoming governor.
Hamzat’s comments come as traffic management remains a major issue in Lagos, with congestion regularly affecting commuters on major roads and bridges.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
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