Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has called for deeper interactions and collaborations among states as well as private organisations to drive development.

Sanwo-Olu made the call during a courtesy visit to him by the Board of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Management of Lagos Business School at Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday.

The governor, who spoke through his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, charged the board to enhance economic interactions with states for continued development.

He said states should not depend on the Federal Government to thrive.

Sanwo-Olu noted that many private organisations had made the mistake of focusing solely on Abuja, neglecting the importance of states in implementing projects and programmes.

The governor highlighted the challenges posed by inter-state migration to Lagos State, stressing that the state could not solve the problems alone.

He, therefore, urged NESG to lead conversations that would promote collaborations among states to manage resources, land and people effectively.

Sanwo-Olu cited the successful partnership between the Economic Summit Group and Lagos State Government during the Eyingbetti Summit, which led to the development of infrastructure projects such as the Bus Rapid Transit.

He expressed hope that similar collaboration between Lagos State and other states could lead to significant progress for the country.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Dr Tayo Aduloju, urged the state government to consider reinforcing partnerships that were at the roots of the post 1999 democratic Lagos.

Aduloju said that NESG was committed to making partnerships that would build the Lagos of everyone’s dream.

He also commended the state government for support rendered to the board and for being the group’s host for over decades.

“I must thank the state government for allowing us to thrive and I can say that in Lagos State, we have found a strong patron and sponsor,” he said.