Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat said the government will enforce the one-year rent payment limit to prevent landlords from asking tenants for two or three years’ rent in advance.
Hamzat, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, said the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency law passed in 2025 includes this provision. He added that the government’s main focus now is to make sure people follow the law.
He made these remarks on Sunday at a governorship debate hosted by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, which includes The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable, and Vanguard.
The deputy governor said the government would work to make sure landlords follow the rule, explaining that asking tenants to pay several years’ rent upfront is an unfair burden.
He said, “The next step for Lagos is enforcement. People should not be asked to pay rent two or three years in advance because no one receives a salary three years in advance.”
Hamzat also said the law requires real estate agents in the state to register with the government and have their information included in an official databasHe encouraged residents to use the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency’s online platform to report complaints and give feedback. He said this would help the government keep track of activities in the property sector.ty sector.
He said, “We urge citizens to use the site for communication, as it is the only way we can track what is happening. When these things occur, the government also needs feedback.”
On affordable housing, Hamzat said the government would focus on finishing current housing projects and work to reduce delays in getting property regularisation and title documents.
He explained that slow processing of land documents can make housing more expensive. He added that the state has automated the process so residents can now apply online. The APC candidate also called for stronger collaboration with private property developers to expand housing opportunities beyond affluent neighbourhoods.
He urged developers building in high-income areas such as Ikoyi and Victoria Island to consider undertaking additional projects in less affluent communities.
“As you develop a property, say in Ikoyi or VI, can you develop another one in Egodo? 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,” said.
Hamzat said his manifesto’s ‘Everyday Dignity’ component was designed to ensure that housing costs did not undermine residents’ living standards.