The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Deji Doherty, has proposed a government-backed rental scheme under which the state would rent houses from property owners and make them available to residents at affordable rates.
Doherty said the initiative would help address the rising cost of accommodation by allowing the government to compete directly with private landlords and provide alternatives for low-income earners.
He made the proposal while speaking on affordable housing during the 2026 Lagos Governorship Debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, a coalition comprising The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable and Vanguard.
The PDP candidate argued that the state could not effectively address its housing challenges without reducing the cost of property development and reviewing charges associated with physical planning and building approvals, which he claimed accounted for about 40 per cent of construction costs in Lagos.
Questioning the government’s ability to regulate private landlords, Doherty said direct participation in the rental market would provide residents with more affordable accommodation 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.
He further maintained that the government must become one of the biggest property developers in the state to compete effectively with private landlords and expand access to affordable housing.
“Government has to be the highest developers in the state. If they cannot compete with the landlords, then let us forget it,” he added.
Doherty also advocated low-cost housing and long-term lease arrangements, arguing that the earnings of many workers were insufficient to secure decent accommodation within Lagos.
Citing the financial difficulties faced by low-income earners, he questioned how residents earning the minimum wage could afford houses in the state.
“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.
He disclosed that some of his employees had been forced to live in communities outside Lagos, including Igondo and parts of Ogun State, because of the high cost of accommodation.
The PDP candidate stressed that addressing the housing crisis required practical interventions rather than political promises, insisting that the state government must take a more active role in providing affordable accommodation.
Lagos continues to face significant housing affordability challenges, driven by high demand, rising construction costs and the concentration of economic activities in the state.
Consequently, many workers unable to afford accommodation within Lagos reside in neighbouring communities in Ogun State and commute daily to their workplaces.
