I don’t like shouting matches online. I have bills to pay in Lagos like everyone else. But when I saw the backlash to Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat’s comment advising young workers to “live with parents, relatives, or share accommodation instead of rushing to rent expensive apartments,” I felt we were missing the point.
The headline was weaponized. The context was ignored. The data was buried.
Let’s talk facts.
1. The Reality: Lagos Has A Land Problem, Not Just A Policy Problem
Lagos is not like other states. We are running out of dry land.
Lagos State Land and Housing Deficit- Quick Facts:
– Total land area: ∼3,577 sq km. With reclamation it’s now ∼4,050 sq km
– Lagos Metro land: 999.6 sq km
– Population 2025 estimate: 17.8M in metro. 21M for greater metro area
– Density: 6,871/km2. Urban density hits 14,469/km2
That means 21 million people are fighting for space on land smaller than Oyo State.
About 22% of Lagos is water. We can’t create more land without spending billions on reclamation like Eko Atlantic, Orange Island, and Banana Island —and those end up expensive by design.
Result: A housing deficit estimated at 2-3 million units. Demand will always outstrip supply until we address land plus transportation. So is telling people to “share accommodation” surrender? No. It’s what every mega city does.
2. What The Deputy Governor Said Is Already Global Best Practice
London: A 1-bedroom in Zone 1 is £1,500 – £2,500/month. That’s ₦3M – ₦5M/month. So people live in Watford, Luton, Reading and commute 1hour plus by train.
New York: Young professionals have 3-4 “roommates” in a 2-bedroom in Manhattan/Brooklyn.
Toronto, Dubai, Singapore: Shared housing and living with family into your late 20s is normal.
The Deputy Governor wasn’t saying “don’t be independent.” He was saying: “Be strategic while the system catches up.” That’s not failure. That’s financial intelligence.
Mistaking culture for policy is what critics did. But the truth is: sharing flats, living with family to save, and moving to affordable corridors is both a personal strategy and a stop-gap that governments worldwide encourage.
3. What Lagos Government Is Actually Doing On Housing
To say “there is no plan” is to ignore what’s on ground. The Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat administration has been the most aggressive on housing in 10 years:
A. Mass Housing Delivery
– Lagos State Rent-to-Own and Rental Schemes: Schemes in Igbogbo, Sangotedo, Iponri, Odo-Onosa/Ayandelu to reduce upfront burden.
-Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme – LAGSHOM: Subsidized mortgages for civil servants and private sector workers.
-Public-Private Partnerships: Over 20,000 housing units delivered or ongoing across the state.
B. Fixing The “Yearly Rent” Problem
The Lagos Tenancy Law already caps agency/legals and encourages monthly, quarterly, half-yearly rent. Enforcement is the challenge, and LASRERA is currently clamping down on violators.
C. The Real Game Changer: Transport
