Evangelist Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi, founder of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach (ZPMO), has endorsed Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat ahead of the 2027 governorship election, while urging him to protect Igbo-owned businesses and properties across the state.
Obi said he had raised concerns about the safety of Igbo traders and entrepreneurs with Hamzat, particularly those operating in Alaba International Market, the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex and Ladipo Market.
The cleric made the appeal during his birthday celebration at the ministry’s headquarters in Lagos, where Hamzat joined him and other guests for a thanksgiving service.
The endorsement comes as political consultations gather pace ahead of the election. Hamzat became the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate after winning the party’s governorship primary in May 2026.
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What Obi wants from Hamzat
Obi said his request focused on protecting the investments and livelihoods of Igbo residents who contribute to Lagos’s commercial economy.
“I told him about our people at the Trade Fair, Alaba International and other markets. I told him about Igbo businessmen and women in Lagos. What I demanded from him was not for myself. I wanted our people’s properties and businesses to be safe,” Obi said.
He stressed that the government should protect traders, entrepreneurs and residents regardless of their ethnic background.
The appeal raises questions about how a future administration would prevent attacks on businesses, resolve disputes and ensure that traders can operate without fear of intimidation, violence or arbitrary loss of property.
However, the announcement did not identify specific recent attacks, provide figures on reported incidents or present evidence showing the scale of any current threat to Igbo-owned businesses in the three markets.
It also did not outline a proposed security policy, enforcement mechanism or timetable for implementing the protection Obi seeks.
Hamzat promises inclusive governance
Hamzat acknowledged the role of religious organisations in community development, saying their contributions extend beyond worship to social welfare, youth empowerment and family support.
He reiterated his commitment to inclusive governance and stakeholder engagement, stressing that every Lagos resident should have the opportunity to thrive regardless of background.
“As we work towards a Lagos where every resident has the opportunity to thrive, I believe progress must go hand in hand with inclusion and a genuine commitment to the welfare of our people,” Hamzat said.
The deputy governor also highlighted the economic benefits of religious activities, arguing that visitors who travel to Lagos for worship support businesses in the hospitality, food and transport sectors.
“Hundreds of thousands of people come to Lagos. When they come, they rent hotels, they eat food, they rent somewhere to stay, and therefore increase the economic activity of our state, blessing other people. So why should we stop that?” he said.
Obi thanked Hamzat for recognising ZPMO as a blessing to Lagos State.
The cleric also offered prayers for Hamzat and his running mate, Princess Damilola Sonayon-James, urging the congregation to pray for their long life, wisdom and electoral success.
Alaba road reconstruction: a promise awaiting delivery
Beyond the issue of security, Hamzat addressed concerns about infrastructure around Alaba International Market.
He said he had taken up issues affecting traders and pledged that the road leading to the market would be dualised and reconstructed.
He added that he had engaged market leaders and was continuing consultations with business stakeholders to understand their challenges and identify areas requiring government intervention.
The road pledge is not entirely new.
In August 2026, Radio Nigeria Lagos reported that Alaba market leaders had appealed to the state government to reconstruct the deteriorating Volks–Ibede access road, describing it as a major obstacle to business activity. The report on traders’ appeal highlighted the road’s importance to the movement of people and goods.
Lagos Television also reported in September 2026 that Hamzat had assured traders of road reconstruction and said work on the road network would follow the completion of drainage works intended to address flooding. Its report on the infrastructure commitment provides an important benchmark against which the latest pledge can be assessed.
These earlier commitments make implementation the key question. The latest announcement did not specify when reconstruction would begin, the project’s cost, its funding source or the expected completion date.
For traders, poor access roads can increase transport costs, delay deliveries and discourage customers. Reconstruction could improve movement and commercial activity, but construction may also disrupt access to shops and the movement of goods if authorities do not manage the work carefully.
The government would need to publish a clear project schedule, explain how drainage and road construction would be coordinated, and provide regular updates on progress.
What the endorsement means for Lagos voters
Obi’s endorsement adds a faith-based voice to the political consultations taking place ahead of the 2027 election. However, his support should not be interpreted as evidence that the congregation or the wider Igbo community will vote as a bloc.
Religious leaders can influence public debate and mobilise followers, but individual voters retain their own political choices. The endorsement also does not establish how much electoral support Hamzat could gain from the ministry or from Igbo traders.
For residents and business owners, the more significant test is whether the candidate can turn his assurances into measurable policies.
Protecting businesses would require more than general statements about inclusion. Relevant measures could include accessible channels for reporting threats, timely police response, transparent investigation of attacks, fair handling of property disputes and regular engagement with market associations.
Such measures would benefit traders from all ethnic backgrounds. They could also strengthen investor confidence, protect jobs and support Lagos’s wider commercial economy.
There are risks if political promises remain vague. Without published targets and timelines, voters may struggle to assess progress or distinguish a campaign commitment from an approved government project.
The same accountability standard should apply to security assurances and infrastructure pledges: authorities should identify responsible agencies, publish implementation details and report outcomes.
What happens next?
Hamzat’s next opportunity to provide further details is through his campaign’s policy commitments, including a clear explanation of how his administration would protect businesses and deliver the promised road reconstruction.
Market leaders, traders and relevant security agencies should also be heard to establish the scale of the problems, the measures already in place and the gaps that require government action.
The available announcement does not include independent testimony from traders in Alaba, the Trade Fair Complex or Ladipo Market. Their accounts would help establish whether the concerns raised by Obi reflect specific incidents, wider perceptions of insecurity or both.
For now, the endorsement is a political development, while the protection of businesses and the reconstruction of Alaba’s access road remain matters against which future commitments can be measured.
