Lagos rent crisis: Adequate housing goes beyond building houses – Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Government has emphasized that building more houses is not enough to tackle the housing crisis in the region. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu highlighted affordability, accessibility, and access to essential services as crucial factors in ensuring adequate housing. Speaking at the 2026 World Habitat Day celebration in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu stated that constructing a building does not guarantee it meets the needs of the family living in it, as it must provide security, affordability, accessibility, and basic services.

Since 2019, the state government has constructed 10,623 housing units through direct budgetary allocations and public-private partnerships, with 23 housing estates completed across the five divisions of Lagos. Despite this progress, Sanwo-Olu acknowledged that the achievement is only a part of the broader response needed to address the state's housing needs.

The government is expanding home ownership opportunities through initiatives like the Rent-to-Own scheme and Lagos HOMS, and five housing projects currently under construction will provide an additional 1,584 homes. Sanwo-Olu also stressed the importance of surrounding infrastructure, including roads, drainage, electricity, and water supply, as key components of adequate housing.

The state is pursuing tenancy reforms to protect residents from arbitrary rent increases and unlawful charges. In addition to government efforts, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, emphasized that adequate housing is interconnected with transportation, employment, security, healthcare, education, water supply, sanitation, and urban planning.

He called for greater collaboration among various stakeholders to achieve adequate housing for Lagos residents. The Founder and Convener of the Africa International Housing Show, Festus Adebayo, noted that the high cost of housing is an economic and social challenge, urging a focus on affordability and accessibility in the housing debate.

Adebayo highlighted the need for improved access to land and housing finance, along with stronger cooperation between government and private-sector stakeholders. The Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, David Olawale, stated that sustainable housing depends on effective urban planning and collaboration between government and professional bodies, referencing Sustainable Development Goal 11.

Daisi Oso, General Manager of the Lagos Informal Space Management Authority, also emphasized that World Habitat Day should focus on developing safe, peaceful, accessible, and sustainable communities, beyond just building houses.