A group, the New Gatekeepers, has alleged a clandestine and sinister agenda linking the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with the Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited case, saying that it was a deliberate agenda-setting, targeting the post-Sanwo-Olu era.
It would be recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja recently ordered the sum of $13 million traced to businesswoman and socialite Aisha Achimugu’s firm to be permanently forfeited to the Nigerian government.
The group, in a statement by its leader, Jamiu Akande, said it was a deliberate agenda-setting, targeting the post-Sanwo-Olu era.
The statement read in part: “We strongly condemn the recent media narratives being spread against the Governor of Lagos State, alleging ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with some going concerns.
“These claims are unfounded and misleading. It is essential to recognise that such assertions appear to be part of a broader agenda aimed at undermining the governor’s reputation and the progress being made in the state.
“We urge the public to critically evaluate the sources of this information and to refrain from spreading unverified claims. It is better to focus on constructive dialogue and support efforts to promote transparency and good governance.”
MEANWHILE, Lagos State has been named among the top 10 performing states in Nigeria’s ease-of-doing-business rankings.
Others include Kaduna, Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ogun, Enugu, Plateau, Ekiti, Kano and Nasarawa.
The ranking is contained in the 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report.
Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Mustapha Audu, who broke the news at a roundtable with members of the diplomatic community and strategic partners in Abuja, said the results demonstrate that sustained reforms are producing measurable outcomes across the states.
However, Sanwo-Olu said: “This is the result of deliberate efforts by our government to create a positive environment for local and foreign investments, not just to thrive but to ensure good returns. We will continue to push for more investments and make our state a truly business-friendly place.”
The event, held in collaboration with the British High Commission, UKAID and other partners, focused on connecting investment capital to the country’s top-performing states.
Audu noted that while progress has been made, the key challenge is ensuring that reforms translate into practical results for investors and businesses.
Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy would depend largely on the role of states and the private sector.
In a goodwill message, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, Folashade Bada, representing Sanwo-Olu, said Lagos’ position among the top performers is the result of deliberate and sustained reforms.
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