The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Lagos State Government over the worsening housing situation in the state, saying residents are increasingly being pushed into a market dominated by landlords.
The party said the government needs to take stronger steps to address the housing shortage and reduce the pressure on residents who are struggling with rising rents.
An ADC chieftain said the state should develop a more effective housing strategy capable of significantly increasing the number of homes available to residents each year.
He proposed that Lagos should target the construction of about 20,000 housing units annually as part of efforts to narrow the supply gap and make accommodation more accessible.
According to him, the shortage of affordable housing has allowed landlords and property owners to exert greater control over the rental market, with many residents facing increasingly expensive accommodation costs.
He argued that government investment in housing should complement private-sector development, rather than leaving the responsibility of meeting housing demand largely to private developers.
The ADC also called for measures to make rents, agency charges and other costs associated with securing accommodation more affordable for residents.
The party maintained that addressing the housing crisis would require a combination of increased housing supply, better regulation of the rental market and policies that improve residents’ ability to access homeownership.
The call comes amid growing concerns over rising rents in Lagos, where demand for housing continues to outpace available supply.
