The All Progressives Congress candidate for governor in Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has promised to improve the state's transport systems and create long-term mortgage plans to make housing cheaper for residents.
Hamzat made these promises during the Lagos Governorship Debate on Sunday. He was answering a question about why many residents still face economic struggles despite the state’s wealth.
He recognized the financial challenges Nigerians face, mentioning the high prices of basic goods and fuel. He believes that the state government can help in important areas to lessen these challenges.
“Because Nigeria is undergoing a corrective session financially, things are a little bit tough for people. Long-grain rice, for example, is N66,000, and petrol is N1,600. That’s high, but the levers that the state government can control are housing, agriculture and transportation,” he said.
Transport Plans
On transportation, Hamzat said his government would focus on creating a connected network of roads, railways, and water transport. This plan aims to help many commuters move around the state easily.
“That’s why we have a plan to complete the Blue Line up to Agbado and the Red Line to link it up. We have already shown you the development of the terminal, which we normally call our Trade Fair terminal. It is to move people en masse,” he said.
He mentioned that since Lagos is surrounded by water, it is important to use its waterways to improve public transport.
“Lagos is a water state, and therefore we must turn the lagoon into a waterway. The idea is to build rail, road and water transportation so that they are all connected and move people en masse,” he said.
The Lagos State deputy governor also noted that the transport plan includes adding 34,000 new buses powered by compressed natural gas to enhance mass transit.
Housing Initiatives
On the housing front, Hamzat said Lagos had developed 24 housing estates with 18,000 housing units in the past eight years.
He explained that his administration would launch mortgage plans requiring buyers to pay 10 percent upfront and spread the rest over 25 years.
“Our plan is to make sure that we don’t buy houses the way we buy yam and rice. That is to make sure that we have mortgages with a 10 percent down payment and a 25-year payment plan, so that people can pay over time,” he said.
Hamzat added that this plan would support ongoing housing projects across the state, which he said would be finished to provide more homes for residents.
He pointed out ongoing projects like the Ibeshe Housing Estate, which has 2,700 units, along with other housing schemes.
He believes that the mortgage system would help many residents who struggle to gather the large amounts needed to buy homes outright.
He said making payments over a long time would help more Lagosians become homeowners.
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