Nigeria: Lagos 2027 - Rhodes-Vivour, Hamzat, Doherty Unveil Plans On Housing, Transport, Others

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), unveiled plans to build over 100,000 affordable housing units if elected as Lagos State Governor. He aimed to ensure transparent allocation of these units to prevent wealthy individuals from acquiring multiple properties. Rhodes-Vivour also proposed legislation to protect tenants from arbitrary rent increases, setting a six-month notice period for rent hikes while specifying an incremental percentage.

Additionally, he promised an ombudsman office to tackle tenant exploitation by landlords through excessive fees and charges.

Obafemi Hamzat, the incumbent deputy governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), pledged to enforce existing anti-arbitrary rent increase laws and eliminate the practice of demanding multiple years' rent upfront. He assured that his administration would adhere to the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency Law, insisting that tenants should not be required to pay several years' rent in advance.

Hamzat also highlighted the construction of 24 housing estates in the past eight years and pledged to expand affordable housing access through mortgage facilities and ongoing projects.

Funsho Doherty, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), advocated for greater government involvement in providing affordable housing. He argued that private developers alone could not meet the needs of low- and middle-income residents, calling for the establishment of an ombudsman's office to address tenant exploitation.

Doherty also suggested that the Lagos State Government become a major property developer, offering houses for rent directly from the government. He believed that government regulation couldn't force private landlords to reduce rents and that the state should compete by offering more affordable accommodations.

Adedeji Doherty, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), proposed that the Lagos State Government should become the primary property developer and build houses for residents to rent directly. He argued that government regulation alone couldn't compel private landlords to lower rents, so the state should create alternatives to private rental accommodation. If private landlords couldn't compete with the affordability of government-provided housing, Doherty suggested moving forward without them.