Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said Lagos State is prepared to deepen its partnership with the World Bank Group in key sectors including energy, agriculture, tourism and human capital development.
The governor said the state was open to expanded collaboration and investment partnerships aimed at improving infrastructure and enhancing the quality of life for residents.
Sanwo-Olu made the remarks on Sunday at Lagos House, Marina, while hosting a World Bank delegation led by the Managing Director of Operations, Ms Anna Bjerde. The delegation also included the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Regional Vice President for Africa, Mr Ethiopia Tafara.
He said Lagos remained committed to reforms that attract international support and was willing to meet the necessary conditions to access increased World Bank assistance.
According to the governor, the state is eager to scale up investments and partnerships that deliver measurable benefits to its people, while driving inclusive and sustainable growth.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the achievements of his administration’s THEMES+ agenda, noting that its implementation had produced tangible outcomes across multiple sectors.
He disclosed that Lagos rose from 29th to first position in the national Ease of Doing Business ranking within four years, attributing the progress to targeted reforms and improved efficiency.
Earlier, Bjerde said the World Bank Group was keen to strengthen its engagement with Lagos, describing the state as a strategic partner with strong reform credentials.
She said Lagos’ policy consistency and economic reforms had helped create stability and predictability, particularly for investors.
Bjerde also commended the state for reducing bureaucratic hurdles and improving the business environment.
She disclosed that the World Bank planned to conduct a five-year country review to assess development progress at both national and subnational levels, including Lagos.
According to her, the institution was ready to leverage Lagos’ capacity to expand private sector financing across critical sectors of the economy.