Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has promised that the state government will enforce the one-year limit on rent payments, to stop landlords from demanding two or three years in advance from tenants.
Hamzat, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the provision is part of the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Agency law passed in 2025, and that the government’s focus is now on compliance.
He spoke on Sunday at a governorship debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, a coalition of The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable and Vanguard.
“So the next chapter for Lagos is to enforce, to make sure. So people should not be asked 2 years, 3 years ahead because nobody gets salary three years ahead,” he said.
He argued that demanding multiple years’ rent upfront places an unreasonable burden on tenants.
Hamzat added that the law requires real estate agents operating in Lagos to register with the government and have their details entered in an official database.
He urged residents to use the agency’s online platform to report complaints and give feedback, saying it is the only way the government can track activities in the property sector.
“Our appeal to the citizens is in terms of communication, to make sure that people use that site, because that is the only way we can track,” he said. “When these things happen, government must also have the feedback.”
On affordable housing, the deputy governor said the government would prioritise completing ongoing housing projects and cut delays in obtaining property regularisation and title documents.
He explained that slow processing of land documents can push up housing costs, noting that the state has automated the process so residents can apply online.
Hamzat also called for stronger collaboration with private developers to widen housing opportunities beyond affluent areas. He urged those building in high-income neighbourhoods such as Ikoyi and Victoria Island to take on projects in less affluent communities too.
“As you develop a property, say in Ikoyi or VI, can you develop another one in Egbeda? So those are part of the discussions that we will have so that as we are building for the rich, we’re also building for the poor,” he said.
He said the “Everyday Dignity” component of his manifesto is designed to ensure that housing costs do not erode residents’ standard of living.
According to him, the government will engage landlords to address tenants’ challenges while recognising that Lagos operates a capitalist economy.
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