In a bold move to protect tenants from spiraling housing costs, the Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to fully enforce the *Tenancy Law of Lagos State (2015)*. The lawmakers are also urging a statewide awareness campaign to educate residents on their rights under the law.
The resolutions came during Tuesday’s plenary session, following a motion raised by Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh, who decried the unchecked rent hikes plaguing residents across the state. He highlighted Section 37 of the Tenancy Law, which prohibits arbitrary rent increases and outlines legal protection for tenants facing unfair treatment.
“The continuous rise in rent is contributing to the surge in homelessness across Lagos,” Olumoh warned. “We must put a stop to this before it becomes a full-blown crisis.”
Supporting the motion, Hon. Desmond Elliot (Surulere 1) revealed that rent prices in his constituency have soared by 100 to 200 percent, largely due to ongoing infrastructural upgrades. However, he argued that such improvements should not be a license for landlords to exploit tenants. Elliot also called for a review of the law’s two-year rent advance policy, which often includes steep legal and agency fees, making it even harder for average Lagosians to secure housing.
“We cannot ignore the financial pressure this places on our people. It’s unsustainable,” he said.
Other lawmakers echoed similar concerns. Hon. Aro Moshood criticized landlords who hike rents without notice or regard for tenants’ earnings, in violation of the law. He also condemned the rising cases of illegal evictions, calling for tougher enforcement.
“Many minimum wage earners can’t even afford a single room in this city anymore,” Moshood lamented.
Hon. Shabi Adebola added that the state government must play its part by investing more in affordable housing projects, especially for low-income residents.
In his closing remarks, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa acknowledged the complexity of the issue, noting that the rent crisis is intertwined with the rising costs of building materials. He recommended a multi-stakeholder approach involving real estate developers, landlords, and government agencies to find lasting solutions.
“This is beyond just landlords and tenants—it’s about the entire housing value chain,” Obasa said.
The Speaker ordered the Acting Clerk, Abubakar Ottun, to forward the House’s resolution to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for swift implementation. As housing pressures continue to mount in Africa’s most populous city, all eyes are now on the state government to see whether it will act decisively to shield vulnerable residents from further displacement.
