Babatunde Fashola

Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN (Bàbátúndé Rájí Fáṣọlá ; born 28 June 1963) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as the federal minister of Works and Housing of Nigeria from 2019 to 2023.

Fashola was born on 28 June 1963, in Lagos at Island Maternity Hospital into the family of Ademola Fashola, a former journalist with the Daily Times of Nigeria, and Olufunke Agunbiade, a nurse.

He has 12 siblings.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in November 1988 after completing the professional training programme at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos which he undertook between 1987 and 1988.

Fashola, a Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has received awards and certificates of merit including the Distinguished Alumnus Award conferred on him by the University of Benin Alumni Association.

He is also a recipient of Lagos State public service club Platinum Award for outstanding contribution towards development.

As well as Alliance for Democracy " Igbogbo Bayeku Local Government Award" in recognition of activities towards the success of the party.

Babatunde Fashola is also a Patron of the Law Students Association of the University of Benin and he is the second law graduate from the University of Benin and the first member of the Nigerian Law School graduating class of 1988 to be conferred with the professional rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Fashola is also the First ever Chief of Staff to be so honoured.

Babatunde Fashola is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

These infrastructures had been neglected for years after Abuja was declared the new capital of Nigeria in 1991.

The modernisation of Lagos, which Tinubu had begun, accelerated under Fashola's governorship.

Both the private and public sectors were involved in the realisation of the project.

Fashola introduced air-conditioned city buses, the BRT buses, for which dedicated lanes were constructed.

The "Blue Line" of the suburban railway at the National Theatre.

Fashola initiated the construction of the Lagos Light Rail, the commuter rail of Lagos, the first two lines of which are scheduled for completion in the last quarter of 2022 (as at January 2022).

On assuming office, Fashola embarked on a major overhaul of the city's main highways.

At the same time, major reconstruction works took place almost everywhere in Lagos.

The result was that the Lagos metropolis took on a new look in the first four years of his tenure.

Most of the major roads were redesigned and painted.

New roads were opened up with flyover bridges.

Ultra-modern footbridges were built to replace the old, dilapidated bridges.

He also served two terms as governor of Lagos State from 29 May 2007 to 29 May 2015.

As the candidate of the Action Congress party, now transformed to the All Progressives Congress party, Fashola succeeded Tinubu as governor of Lagos State on 14 April 2007.

In 2008, Fashola was inducted as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb).

In August 2023, Fashola reported to the Nigerian Police and requested for the arrest of a man named, Chike Ibezim whom his phone was tracked for falsely publication, for defamation of character against him (Fashola), his brother of  Nnamdi Ibezim, publisher of Reportera, a news platform that falsely published news that sparked rumour that he (Fashola) was caught drafting a judgement in favour of his party in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election being challenged in court.

Although Chike, the man, who was arrested, denied that he was not the one that committed the alleged act, but his brother; but no evidence to prove that either he did not, but his brother who both of them run the publication website, Reportera published the article from his (Chike) phone.

He was held in detention by the Nigerian Police for 26 days further investigation as his brother who he said he published the article did not show to defend his brother by confessing he did committed the defamation, and was then charged to court.

Chike’s continuous detention has led to widespread concerns.

On September 9, 2023 the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Works which Babatunde Fashola headed as minister was accused of inflating a road contract from N9.8 billion ($13m) to N54.3 billion ($73m).

The road contract in question was the construction and rehabilitation of the 41-kilometre Ijebu-Igbo-Ita-Ibadan Road which had been halted for over five years after its award of contract.

Fashola was chief of staff to his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Fashola, had during his tenure as Chief of Staff, also dubbed as the Honourable Commissioner to the Governor's office.

Babatunde Fashola was the first person to hold both offices simultaneously.

Babatunde Fashola also served in Lagos state in various capacities, including:

Fashola was the chief of staff to his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Fashola was re-elected on 26 April 2011.

Fashola focused on the rehabilitation of Lagos' infrastructures.

He previously served as the minister of Power, Works and Housing from 2015 to 2019.