Lagos State is intensifying efforts to address its housing deficit, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announcing that more than 11,000 new housing units have been delivered across the state over the past six years.The governor made the remark on Friday, Nov. 21, while commissioning a 233-unit housing development in the Abraham Adesanya area of Ajah.
Though modest in scale, the project was completed through a public-private partnership with Urban Shelter Limited and forms part of a broader strategy to improve housing access for low- and middle-income residents.Sanwo-Olu said the administration’s approach prioritizes private sector investment, with the government providing land as equity while developers contribute funding and technical expertise.
The governor said the focus remains on increasing the stock of modern homes across Lagos, noting that 420 apartment units were delivered last month in Ajara, Badagry, as part of the ongoing efforts.He noted that the demand for housing in Lagos, one of Africa’s most populous cities with more than 20 million people, is growing faster than supply and stressed the need for more collaborative solutions.
To make development easier, the state has introduced a more flexible approval process, including a 40 percent rebate on permits and tax incentives aimed at keeping housing affordable.The governor warned that developers who miss deadlines or fail to meet construction standards risk losing their contracts. “Incomplete projects slow our progress,” he said, pointing to a review of underperforming joint ventures.Housing Commissioner Moruf Akinderu-Fatai described the Ajah project as an example of smart land use and effective collaboration.
He praised the developer for upholding professional standards throughout construction.Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub and one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, continues to face pressure from rapid population growth.The state government says its housing drive aims to create safe, inclusive communities that meet long-term urban needs.
