Four governorship candidates in Lagos State have outlined competing plans to address the state’s housing crisis, rising cost of living, transportation challenges, flooding, healthcare, waste management and governance, while exchanging criticisms over the performance of successive administrations and their proposals for the state.
The candidates, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), incumbent Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Funsho Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Adedeji Doherty of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), participated in a governorship debate ahead of the 2027 election.
The debate, organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, comprising Vanguard, Channels Television, TVC, Punch and TheCable, featured exchanges over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, rail financing, affordable housing, environmental protection and the October 20, 2020, Lekki tollgate shooting.
The organisers explained that the four candidates were selected through an impartial and transparent survey, while neither the candidates nor their political parties had advance access to the questions.
In their opening statements, the candidates presented different assessments of Lagos State’s development and outlined their proposals for improving residents’ living conditions.
Rhodes-Vivour criticised what he described as bad governance that had persisted in Lagos for more than 20 years, promising to build a state that would work for all residents rather than only a privileged few.
He said his vision was for “a cleaner Lagos, a safer Lagos, a more affordable Lagos,” arguing that government policies should prioritise ordinary people.
The ADC candidate promised to deliver at least 100,000 housing units within four years, partly through a luxury tax to finance social housing, and proposed the development of the Eastern Foreshore and other areas.
He also pledged to deliver rail infrastructure across the state within two and a half years through private-sector financing, introduce skills acquisition programmes for young people and implement policies protecting wetlands from indiscriminate sand-filling.
Hamzat, who is seeking the governorship on the APC platform, described the debate as a job interview in which Lagos residents were the interviewers.
He highlighted his professional experience as a teacher, case manager in New York City, Commissioner for Science and Technology and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure.
The deputy governor also cited his involvement in developing the state’s resident registration database and delivering a cable bridge.
He introduced his development agenda, titled “The Lagos Promise,” which contains seven pillars and 100 pledges covering people-focused governance, opportunities, inclusion, security, resilience and integrity.
Funsho Doherty, the NDC candidate, argued that Lagos was performing considerably below its economic potential despite its substantial revenue.
He said the state’s budget had increased from ₦3.3 trillion in the preceding year to ₦4.4 trillion, questioning why such resources had not translated into adequate public services.
According to him, Lagos had remained under one political establishment for 27 years, dating back to the administration of the current President.
He criticised the state of education, healthcare, housing, electricity and water supply, noting that some communities, including Lagos Island, continued to experience inadequate access to water.
Doherty presented a development programme containing six themes and 34 pillars, maintaining that his administration would prioritise people-centred policies rather than merely expanding government revenue.
Adedeji Doherty of the PDP described himself as a technocrat, businessman, entrepreneur and industrialist who had remained in the party since joining in 1998.
He outlined a 10-point agenda covering electricity, housing, transportation, healthcare and economic development.
On housing, he questioned the feasibility of promising large numbers of affordable houses without adequately considering the rising costs of land and construction materials.
He proposed examining alternative building designs and construction methods to reduce costs.
The candidates were subsequently questioned about how their administrations would improve the living conditions of ordinary households within two years.
Rhodes-Vivour accused the state government of implementing policies favouring wealthy residents at the expense of vulnerable communities.
He cited developments in Makoko, alleging that residents had faced demolitions to create opportunities for private developments that most low-income Lagosians could not afford.
He promised a transparent social housing programme that would allow beneficiaries to move from smaller accommodation to larger homes as their family needs changed.
Hamzat defended the state’s housing record, saying Lagos had developed 24 housing estates containing 18,000 units over eight years.
He promised to complete ongoing housing projects and introduce mortgages requiring a 10 per cent down payment, with repayment spread over 25 years.
The deputy governor maintained that residents should no longer be compelled to purchase houses through immediate lump-sum payments.
Funsho Doherty proposed 150,000 affordable housing units, free education without examination fees, one affordable meal daily for pupils in public schools, improved healthcare and increased support for small businesses.
Adedeji Doherty attributed the economic difficulties facing Lagos to debt obligations, excessive government agencies and inadequate local government autonomy.
He proposed reducing the number of ministries, departments and agencies and using the savings to provide economic relief for residents.
On the rising cost of rent, Rhodes-Vivour promised legislation requiring landlords to provide at least six months’ notice before increasing rent, alongside a proposed limit of between 20 and 30 per cent on such increases.
He also condemned excessive agency and legal fees, describing situations where tenants were charged ₦500,000 each for such services on a self-contained apartment as “criminal.”
Hamzat maintained that existing legislation regulating real estate transactions should be enforced, including provisions relating to rent payments and the registration of agents.
He promised to simplify property documentation, complete housing estates and encourage developers of high-end properties to support affordable housing projects.
Funsho Doherty described excessive agency and legal fees as “a form of racketeering” and proposed establishing an ombudsman’s office to address complaints.
He argued that government must take a more active role in providing affordable housing, particularly for low- and middle-income earners.
Adedeji Doherty proposed that the government rent properties directly from landlords and subsequently make them available to residents at affordable rates.
“What we are going to do is very simple: we are going to rent those houses ourselves, and then you come and rent from us,” he said.
The debate became more confrontational during discussions on rail development and its financing.
Rhodes-Vivour argued that Lagos should not depend entirely on its balance sheet to finance rail projects, alleging that the approach contributed to delays and inadequate procurement transparency.
He maintained that private infrastructure financiers could deliver rail projects within two and a half years, insisting that commercially viable rail systems could attract private investment.
Hamzat disagreed, arguing that governments generally provide the initial investment for rail infrastructure before transferring operations through concession arrangements.
“There is nowhere in Africa, none, that private sector has funded a rail,” he maintained.
He said the state had previously explored private financing for the Blue and Red rail lines without securing the required funding.
Rhodes-Vivour, however, insisted that private financiers had expressed interest in financing Lagos rail projects, alleging that proposals presented to the government were not accepted.
The candidates also disagreed over the causes of persistent flooding and the environmental implications of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.
Funsho Doherty described flooding as evidence of longstanding governance failures, arguing that the destruction of wetlands had weakened Lagos’ natural ability to absorb floodwater.
He alleged that the environmental impact assessment for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road had not been completed before construction commenced.
Hamzat disputed the allegation, saying the road alignment had been officially established during his tenure as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure and that an environmental impact assessment had been conducted at the time.
“As the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, I actually gazetted the alignment of the coastal road. The environmental impact analysis was done as far back then,” he said.
Funsho Doherty countered that an environmental assessment conducted several years earlier could not automatically justify a project being executed under changed conditions.
He claimed that information obtained from the Bureau of Public Procurement indicated that no environmental impact assessment was available when the project was presented for due process consideration.
“Let us not stand here and whitewash something that should not be whitewashed,” he said.
Hamzat responded that Nigeria operates a federal system and that the Lagos State Government could not prevent the Federal Government from executing a federal project.
Rhodes-Vivour also criticised the state’s approach to flood management, proposing construction methods that would allow water to flow beneath buildings, particularly in wetland communities.
He promised improved road construction standards, flood prediction systems, early warning arrangements and protection of wetlands.
Adedeji Doherty acknowledged the challenges posed by climate change and poor drainage, calling for better management of drainage infrastructure while recognising some measures already taken by the government.
Transportation also generated competing proposals.
Rhodes-Vivour declared that “Traffic is not a lifestyle, and we should not have to work to get to work.”
He proposed decentralised development, additional rail infrastructure, shorter bridges, cable cars, improved ferry terminals, bicycle lanes and better roads within local government areas.
Hamzat outlined plans to expand the state’s compressed natural gas bus fleet to 4,000 vehicles, improve BRT connections, introduce 77 electric ferries and integrate payments across buses, rail and ferries through the Cowry card.
He also promised further development of water transportation corridors and completion of outstanding road junction projects.
Funsho Doherty criticised the existing public transport system, arguing that its continued dependence on poorly maintained buses and informal transport networks reflected governance and policy failures.
“The lack of a modern transportation system in Lagos is not by accident. I think there’s a vested interest in operating the bus system the way we are operating it, with many small buses chaotically operated,” he said.
He promised to modernise transportation and provide alternative employment opportunities through vocational education, skills acquisition and transport-related jobs.
Adedeji Doherty identified bad roads, heavy-duty vehicles, transport union activities and the delay in constructing the Fourth Mainland Bridge as major contributors to traffic congestion.
He proposed additional bridges, improved road diversions and expanded transport connections across the state.
On healthcare, Rhodes-Vivour promised 245 emergency response centres, one in each ward, with two ambulances per centre.
He also proposed increased health funding, improved remuneration for medical personnel, preventive healthcare programmes and the use of artificial intelligence to support diagnosis.
Hamzat said the state’s Ilera Eko health insurance scheme had 1.4 million enrollees and should be expanded to cover one in every three Lagos residents.
He outlined plans to expand hospital bed capacity, upgrade primary healthcare centres and establish a medical university capable of training more doctors.
Funsho Doherty pledged to increase combined spending on health and education to 28 per cent during his first term.
He also promised fully free maternal and child healthcare, including medicines and medical tests.
Adedeji Doherty identified shortages of doctors, nurses, hospital beds, drugs and medical facilities as challenges requiring urgent attention.
He proposed increased medical training and support for local manufacturers of healthcare products.
The candidates also addressed waste management, with Rhodes-Vivour declaring that “Lagos stinks” and accusing the government of failing to establish an efficient waste management system.
He proposed decentralising waste collection, involving local governments and encouraging households to separate waste for recycling and other uses.
Hamzat defended the government’s transition towards material recovery and recycling, explaining that the state was developing facilities to reduce dependence on landfills.
Funsho Doherty acknowledged that parts of Lagos suffered from poor waste management and called for investment in trucks, collection facilities and waste-processing infrastructure.
Adedeji Doherty emphasised the need to address liquid, human and solid waste, warning about the consequences of inadequate waste disposal.
The debate also addressed the October 20, 2020, Lekki tollgate shooting.
Asked about his personal knowledge of the security decisions taken on the night of the incident, Hamzat described the event as a painful moment for Lagos.
“October 20 was a sad day in Lagos, very sad. And I will not stand here and say I’m not the deputy. I was in the room,” he said.
He maintained that the state established an independent judicial panel, made its report public and issued a white paper implementing many of the panel’s recommendations.
Hamzat further argued that military affairs fell under the responsibility of the Federal Government, rejecting suggestions that the Lagos State Government controlled the military’s involvement.
“Trust was broken, but Lagos State did the right thing,” he stated.
Rhodes-Vivour challenged the deputy governor’s position, alleging that he and Funsho Doherty had recently been subjected to tear gas while laying flowers at the Lekki tollgate.
He described the incident as part of what he considered the normalisation of violence against opposition political figures in Lagos.
The debate also examined the candidates’ political backgrounds and questions concerning their independence.
Hamzat rejected suggestions that his political relationships with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, President Bola Tinubu and the state’s governance advisory council would prevent him from exercising independent judgment as governor.
He defended the administration’s achievements while acknowledging that gaps remained in public service delivery.
Rhodes-Vivour, questioned about his political experience and change of party, maintained that leadership required empathy, commitment and political will rather than executive experience alone.
Funsho Doherty was questioned about a challenge to his emergence as the NDC governorship candidate.
“I won the primary. Anybody can claim anything,” he responded, maintaining that disputes over party primaries could be resolved through the courts.
He also defended his movement between political parties, arguing that changing political platforms was not necessarily inconsistent with principled leadership.
Adedeji Doherty was questioned about his association with the PDP faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He defended his longstanding membership of the PDP, describing Wike as his national leader and attributing his emergence as a candidate to years of political work and grassroots organisation.
The PDP candidate also referred to his business experience, saying he had successfully managed substantial financial obligations and could apply his debt-management experience to the state’s finances.
During the debate, the independent fact-checking team announced that three claims made by the candidates were inaccurate or misleading.
Adedeji Doherty’s claim that Lagos had approximately 28 islands was rated misleading because there was no widely accepted count of the state’s islands.
Funsho Doherty’s claim that Lagos generated more internally generated revenue than 31 states combined was rated false.
The fact-checkers stated that Lagos recorded ₦1.77 trillion in internally generated revenue in 2025, compared with ₦1.26 trillion in 2024, while the combined revenue of all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory stood at ₦5.15 trillion.
They explained that Lagos accounted for approximately 34 per cent of the total.
Hamzat’s claim that Lagos was two metres below sea level was also rated false, with the fact-checkers clarifying that Lagos was a low-lying coastal city but was not below sea level.
In their closing remarks, the candidates reiterated their competing visions for Lagos.
Rhodes-Vivour returned to the Lekki tollgate issue, questioning what he described as a contradiction between the deputy governor’s expression of sympathy and the treatment of people participating in remembrance activities.
Funsho Doherty argued that Lagos required a different approach to governance, contrasting his programme, “The New Way,” with Hamzat’s “The Lagos Promise.”
“Not all politicians are the same, not all political parties are the same,” he said.
He urged voters to assess whether they were satisfied with the state’s direction after 27 years under the same political establishment.
Hamzat defended his policy programme, maintaining that his pledges were documented and could be measured through a scorecard.
Adedeji Doherty reiterated his proposals for reducing levies, improving social services and supporting residents, presenting his campaign under the slogan “Awaken Lagos.”
The debate ended with the candidates presenting contrasting approaches to the state’s challenges, particularly the financing of public infrastructure, the role of government in affordable housing and healthcare, environmental management and accountability in governance.
The organisers also announced plans for a presidential town hall and debate as part of the continuing debate series.
Post Title: “Lagos Is Operating Far Below Its Potential” — Rhodes-Vivour, Hamzat, Funsho And Doherty Clash Over Housing, Flooding, Rail Projects, Lekki Tollgate At Governorship Debate By Naijaonpoint.