Former House of Representatives member and Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Parastatals Monitoring, Hon. Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro, on Wednesday spearheaded the maiden Lagos State and Federal Parastatals Summit, calling for enhanced efficiency, accountability and strategic collaboration across government institutions.

Obanikoro made the call while delivering the welcome address at the summit themed “Enhancing Efficiency, Accountability and Strategic Governance across Lagos State and Federal Parastatals,” held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.

Speaking on behalf of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Special Adviser described the summit as both strategic and timely, noting that contemporary governance demands greater coordination, collaboration and collective responsibility among institutions at all levels.

He explained that the Parastatals Monitoring Office, under his supervision, serves as the central channel for transmitting executive decisions affecting parastatals, convenes quarterly engagements with state chief executive officers, and acts as a liaison between Lagos State and other tiers of government on parastatal-related matters.

According to Obanikoro, Lagos State remains Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, hosting a large concentration of federal and state parastatals operating within the same geographic and socio-economic environment.

He observed, however, that limited coordination has often resulted in policy duplication, overlapping mandates, operational inefficiencies and the underutilisation of shared resources.

“These challenges ultimately impact the quality, speed and effectiveness of services delivered to our people,” he said, stressing the need for deliberate institutional alignment.

Obanikoro noted that the summit was convened to bridge existing institutional divides, encourage structured engagement and foster practical collaboration between federal and Lagos State parastatals.

He described the platform as an avenue for honest dialogue, knowledge sharing and the co-creation of solutions that would lead to more harmonised development outcomes.

He further stated that the discussions at the summit were aligned with the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda of the Sanwo-Olu administration, which prioritises building a smarter, more inclusive and better-governed megacity.

Achieving this vision, he said, requires institutions to operate in synergy rather than silos.

The Special Adviser urged participants to engage openly, think innovatively and commit to actionable outcomes that would outlive the summit, translating conversations into partnerships and measurable impact for Lagosians and Nigerians at large.

The maiden summit marked a significant step toward strengthening coordination between Lagos State and Federal Parastatals, reinforcing the state government’s commitment to efficient governance and improved service delivery.

“Igbega Ipinle Eko, Ajumose Ni,” Obanikoro declared as he welcomed participants and wished them fruitful deliberations.