Sanwo-Olu Advocates Private Sector Collaboration To Bridge Housing Deficit

Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stressed the need for strong collaboration between government and the private sector to bridge Nigeria’s yawning housing deficit.

Sanwo-Olu, who stated this yesterday at the 6th Lagos Real Estate Marketplace Conference  organised by the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Agency (LASRERA), with the theme “Shaping the Future of Lagos Mega City: Infrastructure Investment, Innovation and Affordable Housing,” added that affordable and sustainable housing cannot be delivered by government alone.

The governor stated that his administration is committed to developing an inclusive and sustainable housing sector for all residents. Still, he noted that achieving this goal requires the active participation of private developers, financial institutions, and investors.

According to him, housing extends beyond physical structures and directly addresses human dignity, economic productivity, and social stability.

“Housing is not just about buildings. It is about the kind of city we choose to become. In Lagos, affordability means homes that people can actually live in, pay for, and access close to where they work and raise their families. This can only be achieved through partnerships, leveraging public-private partnerships, structured finance and demand-led planning,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He emphasised that the government’s role is to act as an enabler, regulator and partner, rather than the sole provider of housing, adding that no meaningful progress can be made without strong collaboration with the private sector.

“A true megacity is not defined by how tall it builds, but by how well it lives. That is the Lagos we are committed to building thoughtfully, inclusively and sustainably,” he added.

In his address at the event, the commissioner for Housing, Mr Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, said Lagos has attracted global attention due to its development strategies, capital projects and housing initiatives aimed at positioning the state as Africa’s model megacity.

He noted that regulatory agencies, such as LASRERA, play a key role in ensuring that innovation in the housing and construction sector does not compromise public safety, integrity, or compliance.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Ms Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, described the conference as a strategic platform for government and private sector stakeholders to jointly address challenges facing the housing sector in a rapidly growing megacity like Lagos.

She said partnerships with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Canada and other African nations reflect the state government’s readiness to strengthen its real estate infrastructure and adopt global best practices.

Odunuga-Bakare also disclosed that the state government is reviewing a new tenancy bill at the Lagos State House of Assembly, aimed at streamlining the roles of real estate practitioners and providing more straightforward guidelines for property transactions.

“Lagos State is committed to creating the most transparent and investor-friendly real estate ecosystem in Africa. Let us use this platform to forge partnerships that will deliver real homes, not just ideas,” she said.