The Lagos State Government has announced the revocation of housing units allocated through state programs but left unoccupied for over two years.
This measure, led by Commissioner for Housing Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, aims to ensure that allocated units are used by those who genuinely need them, promoting fairness in housing distribution across the state.
In a statement from Ganiu Lawal, Director of Public Affairs, Akinderu-Fatai emphasized that units within schemes like Rent-To-Own, designed for urgent housing needs, should not remain vacant.
“The Lagos State Government Housing Units are meant for those who actually need them, not speculators,” he stated. Enforcement of this directive began at the Lagos State Housing Estate in Sangotedo, Lekki, where Akinderu-Fatai highlighted the risks prolonged vacancy poses to estate infrastructure and the overall housing system.
Background on Lagos Housing Programs
The Lagos government has introduced programs such as the Rent-To-Own scheme and the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) to address the city’s housing shortfall.
The Rent-To-Own Program allows residents to make a 5% down payment, take immediate possession, and complete payment as monthly rent over ten years. To qualify, applicants must be Lagos State residents, hold a valid Lagos State Residents Registration Card, be first-time buyers aged 21 or older, and be tax compliant. The program also requires that monthly payments not exceed 33% of an applicant’s income.
Meanwhile, Lagos HOMS, overseen by the Lagos Mortgage Board, offers mortgage financing for affordable homes, with buyers contributing up to 30% of the property’s value. The scheme promotes transparency and equitable access by prohibiting subletting and using a pre-qualification and lottery draw for allocation. Both initiatives are key to the government’s ongoing efforts to bridge the housing gap, with a focus on accessibility and fairness in ownership.
