Hamzat promises 25-year mortgages, vows rent law enforcement in Lagos
Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, has promised to strengthen the enforcement of rent regulations and introduce a mortgage scheme allowing residents to buy homes with a 10 per cent deposit and repay the balance over 25 years.
Hamzat made the pledge on Sunday during the Lagos Governorship Debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium in Lekki.
Responding to a question about whether Lagosians must spend much of their earnings paying landlords, Hamzat said the state needed to enforce existing restrictions on advance rent payments.
“So there is a Lagos State Real Estate Registration Law that was passed last year, and it says tenants should pay 1 year’s rent,” he said.
The APC candidate maintained that enforcement was the next priority and urged residents to report violations through the state’s designated channels.
“Our appeal is to citizens to make sure they use the site and communicate so we can track,” he added.
However, the one-year advance rent limit predates 2025. Section 4 of the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 prohibits landlords from demanding more than one year’s rent from new tenants in areas covered by the legislation.
A separate tenancy reform bill introduced in 2025 remained under consideration at the Lagos State House of Assembly as of May 2026.
On housing affordability, Hamzat said his administration would pursue mortgage arrangements requiring a 10 per cent initial payment, with the balance spread over 25 years.
He also promised to expand transportation infrastructure, including roads, rail and waterways, to improve mass movement across the state.
Addressing broader questions about Lagos’ wealth and the difficulties confronting residents, Hamzat argued that better transportation and improved access to homeownership would be central to his administration’s plans.
In his opening remarks, the deputy governor urged voters to assess his experience and proposals as carefully as they would evaluate someone seeking responsibility for their family’s affairs.
“Femi Hamzat knows the city, knows the people and knows the work,” he declared.
“Distinguished Lagosians, judge my plan like you want to hire anybody; judge my pedigree like you want to hire anybody who will manage your family. That is our commitment.”
Hamzat is seeking to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the February 6, 2027, governorship election.
The debate brought together major candidates to discuss issues affecting Lagosians, including housing, transportation, economic growth and public services.