Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos says youth in the state are his “children” and his administration in the past four years has provided them jobs on construction sites.

Mr Sanwo-Olu made this statement when asked about his plans for youths who are critical of his administration in an interview with Arise TV on Wednesday.

“They are my children. They are my bosses in some space. Because I identify with all of them at various levels. You know, it is a large number and there is no way I can satisfy every single person,” Mr Sanwo-Olu said.

“If I do a road construction, it is not for me. It is about the number of youths that are working as supervisors, as labourers, as engineers, on that site. So it has a ripple effect.”

Speaking further, Mr Sanwo-Olu said his government is providing enabling environment for youths to thrive and focused on how to get people out of unemployment and poverty.

“Another area which they (youth) want is technology for example, we are the only state in the country providing enabling environment for them.

“In less than two years, we have seen international organisations coming into Lagos to make foreign direct investments – runs into billions. In fact, Lagos has become the tech start-up hub in Africa and it is because of the economy we have provided for them,” said Mr Sanwo-Olu.

The Lagos governor is fighting for reelection in the governorship election scheduled for Saturday.

Mr Sanwo-Olu’s major challenger, Gbadebo Rhodes Viviour of the Labour Party, has garnered more support going by February 25 presidential election in which Peter Obi polled 582,454, defeating the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate Bola Tinubu, who polled 572, 606 votes in Lagos.