Lagos PDP Candidate Promises Affordable Housing Solutions

Deji Doherty, the Lagos State governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, has said his government will rent houses and make them available to residents. This move aims to tackle the rising cost of accommodation in the state.

Doherty believes the government needs to compete with private landlords to help low-income earners access housing. He shared this plan while discussing affordable housing strategies at the 2026 Lagos governorship debate, which was organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium.

He pointed out that the state would struggle to solve the housing crisis if it continued to carry a heavy debt and did not address the high cost of building properties. He noted that fees related to physical planning and building approvals make up about 40 percent of the cost of constructing a house in Lagos.

The PDP candidate also raised concerns about the government's ability to manage private landlords. He suggested that if the government entered the rental market, it would give residents more options. "There is no landlord and there is no government that can control a landlord. There is none. What is going to happen is this. What we’re going to do is very simple. We are going to rent those houses ourselves and then you come and rent from us if you want to," he said.

Doherty added that for the government to effectively compete with private landlords, it must be one of the biggest players in the property market. "Government has to be the highest developers in the state. If they cannot compete with the landlords, then let us forget it," he said.

He also called for low-cost housing and long-term lease options. He pointed out that many workers cannot afford accommodation in Lagos based on their monthly salaries. He questioned how people earning the minimum wage could find affordable housing, noting that some of his employees live in areas outside Lagos due to high accommodation costs.

"Minimum wage in Lagos State is probably ₦120,000, I hope. At the end of the day, ₦120,000 per month, where are you going to get which house?" he asked. Many workers now live in places like Igondo and communities in Ogun State.

Doherty insisted that affordable housing needs practical solutions, not just political promises. He believes the government must play a more active role in providing homes for its residents.

Lagos has faced long-standing issues with housing affordability. These problems stem from high demand, rising construction costs, and the concentration of job opportunities in the state. Many workers who cannot afford housing in Lagos now live in nearby Ogun State and travel to Lagos for work.