Lagos' Rising Revenue Not Helping Ordinary People, Rhodes-Vivour

The Lagos State governorship candidate for the African Democratic Congress, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has said that past governments in the state focus on the rich while ignoring the needs of average citizens.

Rhodes-Vivour, also known as GRV, shared this view on Sunday during a governorship debate held by the Nigeria Debate Consortium in Lagos. He used the platform to outline his plans for the state's issues.

He criticized what he called two decades of policies that only help wealthy areas, especially in housing. He mentioned communities like Makoko, claiming that past administrations prioritize urban development, which puts residents at risk of losing their homes.

Rhodes-Vivour also questioned if the state's increasing internally generated revenue had led to better living conditions for everyday Lagosians.

"Lagos government, in the last 20 years, has focused on elite policies, eyebrow areas for housing. That's why on paper, Lagos celebrates a high IGR, but on the ground, people are not feeling it. We would focus on people, our policies are tailored towards that," he said.

The ADC candidate promised that his manifesto would work on improving the welfare of residents. He plans to address issues like poor waste management, traffic jams, lack of healthcare, and housing shortages.

"My manifesto has always stood with the people, putting the interest of the people first. I have that track record. We're bringing solution thinking to the problems of Lagos State, waste management, traffic, healthcare, housing," he added.

He promised that a government led by the ADC would create policies that meet the real needs of residents. This includes his plan to build 100,000 housing units.

The debate was organized by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, a group that includes The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable, and Vanguard.

Lagos has ongoing issues with affordable housing, urban renewal, traffic congestion, and basic services as its population and built-up areas grow.

Makoko, a waterfront community in Lagos, often comes up in discussions about demolitions, displacements, and residents’ rights during urban development projects.