Hamzat vows to enforce one-year rent law in Lagos
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, has pledged to enforce regulations restricting landlords to collecting no more than one year’s rent in advance and protecting tenants against arbitrary increases.
Hamzat, the incumbent deputy governor, made the pledge on Sunday during the Lagos governorship debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, saying his administration would ensure compliance with the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency Law.
The APC candidate also described the state’s drainage network as “fantastic”, but stressed that regular maintenance was essential to prevent blockages and flooding.
On housing, Hamzat said the Lagos government had developed 24 housing estates over the past eight years and promised to expand access to affordable accommodation through increased mortgage facilities.
He said ongoing housing projects across the state would be completed, while measures would be introduced to improve access to decent housing for residents.
Turning to transportation, Hamzat outlined plans to strengthen the state’s rail, road and water transport systems to ease congestion and improve mobility.
He pledged to introduce 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, with a target of transporting one million passengers daily.
The governorship candidate also promised to deploy 77 electric ferries to expand water transportation, arguing that Lagos waterways remained largely underutilised.
Defending government investment in rail infrastructure, Hamzat maintained that private-sector financing alone had not delivered a functional rail system anywhere in Africa.
On healthcare, he promised to expand medical facilities and increase the number of flagship primary healthcare centres from 87 to 150.
He said the proposed centres would operate 24 hours a day to improve access to essential healthcare services across the state.
Hamzat maintained that the proposed measures would build on existing government programmes while addressing residents’ concerns over housing, transportation, flooding and healthcare.