By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed the state’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation with Sweden in the areas of information technology, cybersecurity, and infrastructure development, in a bid to ehance service delivery and economic growth in the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, made the commitment on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice Désirée, Crown Princess of Sweden and Duchess of Västergötland, at the Lagos House, Marina.
Highlighting Lagos’ strategic importance to Nigeria and Africa at large, the governor expressed optimism that the visit by the Swedish delegation and its interactions with the local business community would yield mutually beneficial development opportunities.
“We are expanding our digital infrastructure with over 6,800 kilometres of fibre optics across the state—3,500 kilometres of which are already completed—to boost bandwidth penetration,” Sanwo-Olu said. “With a population of over 22 million, double that of Sweden, the opportunities for investment and partnership in IT and infrastructure are vast.”
He noted the increasing interest of major global tech firms in Lagos, citing Google’s ongoing construction of a data centre, alongside three other similar projects in the state.
Earlier, Princess Alice Désirée commended Lagos for its pivotal role in Nigeria’s economy, expressing enthusiasm about the future of Swedish-Nigerian relations.
“We are excited to explore the vast opportunities for collaboration. The presence of Swedish companies here reflects our long-term commitment to building strong partnerships,” she stated.
Also speaking, Sweden’s Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Mr. Andreas Carlson, said the Crown Princess’ visit underscored Sweden’s desire to deepen cooperation with Lagos in areas such as green technology, digital innovation, and trade.
He announced the official inauguration of the first Swedish Trade Office in Nigeria, located in Lagos, which he said would further bolster economic and technological ties between both nations.
“Lagos is the right place to start. We see this as a major step forward in strengthening our partnership in green and digital transition,” Carlson said.
The visit also featured a cultural welcome for the Princess at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and a symbolic exchange of traditional gifts, led by Lagos First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat.
The Crown Princess was accompanied by top Swedish officials, including Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sweden, Ambassador Tiwatope Elias-Fatile.
