Lagos strengthens project monitoring to boost service delivery

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to improve project delivery, promote accountability and ensure value for public spending across its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The commitment was reiterated on Wednesday during the 2026 Monitoring and Evaluation Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget in Alausa, Ikeja, where stakeholders examined strategies for using effective monitoring and evaluation to drive sustainable development and shared prosperity.

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, said monitoring and evaluation remain critical to achieving the objectives of the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) 2052 and the THEMES+ Development Agenda.

Ojo said meaningful development requires deliberate planning, effective implementation, diligent monitoring and continuous learning to ensure government interventions deliver measurable benefits to residents.

According to her, monitoring and evaluation promote transparency, strengthen institutional performance and ensure that public resources are effectively deployed to achieve intended development outcomes.

She said the stakeholders’ forum was organised to deepen collaboration, encourage the exchange of best practices and generate practical recommendations that would further strengthen the state’s monitoring and evaluation system.

The permanent secretary urged participants to contribute ideas that would support a more responsive, accountable and results-driven public service.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ope George, said the state’s monitoring and evaluation process begins during annual budget consultations held across the IBILE divisions, where residents identify priority projects for government consideration.

He explained that after projects are approved, the ministry’s Monitoring and Evaluation Department works with relevant MDAs to monitor implementation, track progress and assess performance before payments are made, ensuring accountability throughout project execution.

George said the monitoring framework covers all government projects, including major infrastructure such as the Opebi-Mende Bridge, Massey Children’s Hospital, rail projects and the Food Logistics Hub, as well as education, healthcare and community-based interventions.

“For every single project that the state undertakes, every naira and kobo is monitored, evaluated and reported,” he said.

The commissioner added that technology is enhancing project monitoring through digital platforms such as the EKO360 App, while emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, are expected to further improve data collection, reporting and decision-making.

In a keynote presentation, former Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, represented by the founding President of the Nigeria Association of Evaluators, Mr. Aliyu Ahmed, called for the adoption of a Results-Based Management framework to strengthen governance and public sector performance.

He said governments should be assessed by measurable improvements in the quality of life of citizens rather than the amount of money spent or the number of projects executed, identifying efficiency, effectiveness, impact and equity as key benchmarks for evaluating government performance.

Chairman of the Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council, Alhaji Hamzat Azeez, also commended the state government for involving communities in project planning, monitoring and post-completion management, saying the approach has strengthened community ownership and helped ensure completed projects continue to benefit residents.

The forum brought together government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, civil society organisations, academics and community leaders to explore ways of strengthening monitoring and evaluation as a key driver of sustainable development and shared prosperity in Lagos State.