Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has clarified his viral remarks on Lagos traffic, saying his comments were taken out of context and were not intended to trivialise the challenges faced by commuters.
Hamzat’s clarification follows widespread reactions to a video clip from his speech at PodFest Naija, where he described Lagos traffic as “a lifestyle” and said it had become a “patron” of the creative industry because residents consume podcasts, music and other entertainment while stuck in traffic.
The remarks, made during a discussion on Lagos’ creative economy, quickly circulated online, with reactions focused largely on his statement that “traffic is not the problem; it’s just a lifestyle.”
In his follow-up clarification, Hamzat and his team said the viral clip did not capture the broader context of his remarks. They explained that he was highlighting how Lagos’ unique environment, including long commuting hours, has influenced the way local creatives produce and distribute content.
The deputy governor had told the PodFest audience that many Lagosians consume creative content during journeys between places such as Ojota and Obalende, describing traffic as an unexpected source of audience engagement for podcasters and other creators.
Hamzat also used the event to speak about the wider creative economy, urging creators to build sustainable businesses, protect their intellectual property and find ways to convert large audiences into income.
“A podcast with a million listeners and no business model is just a hobby with a good microphone,” he said, stressing the need for creators to develop stronger commercial models around their work.
The clarification comes as the traffic remark continues to generate debate online, with the central issue shifting from the wording of the original comment to whether the viral clip accurately represented the point Hamzat was making about Lagos’ creative sector.
Hamzat’s position is that it did not, maintaining that his remarks were intended to illustrate how creatives have adapted to, and found opportunities within, the realities of life in Lagos.
