Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, don announce say government dey plan to enforce the one-year rent payment rule wey go stop landlords from demanding two or three years’ rent from tenants at once.

Hamzat, wey also be the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), explain say the provision dey inside the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency law wey dem pass for 2025.

E add say the next step na to make sure say landlords and estate agents dey obey the rule.

E make this statement on Sunday during one governorship debate wey Nigeria Debate Consortium organise for Lagos.

The debate na joint effort between The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable and Vanguard.

During the debate, Hamzat also talk about plans wey government dey consider to make houses affordable and address other problems for the property sector.

“So the next chapter for Lagos is to enforce, to make sure. So people should not be asked 2 years, 3 years ahead because nobody gets salary three years ahead,” e talk.

The governorship candidate also explain say the law require estate agents to register with the state government and make sure say their names dey inside official database.

E urge Lagos residents to use the online platform of Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency to report problems and help government monitor wetin dey happen for the property sector.

According to am, government need information from residents to know when landlords and agents dey break the rules and take necessary action.

“So our appeal to the citizens is in terms of communication, to make sure that people use that site, because that is the only way we can track. Because this— when these things happen, government must also have the feedback,” e talk.

On how to make houses affordable, Hamzat promise say government go complete ongoing housing projects and work to reduce the time wey residents dey spend to get property approval and land ownership documents.

E explain say delay in processing land documents fit increase the cost of houses, but government don complete the process of making applications available online through automation.

Hamzat also call for more cooperation between government and private property developers to make sure say new houses no dey concentrated only for areas wey rich people dey live.

E say developers wey dey build houses for wealthy areas like Ikoyi and Victoria Island suppose also consider building houses for communities wey people no get plenty money.

“As you develop a property, say in Ikoyi or VI, can you develop another one in Egodo? So those are part of the discussions that we will have so that as we are building for the rich, we’re also building for the poor, apart from what the government is doing to make sure that people actually have housing,” e talk.

While referring to im manifesto, Hamzat explain say the Everyday Dignity section na to make sure say rent payment no go become serious burden wey go affect the dignity of residents.

E say government go work together with landlords to address the problem, while also recognising say Nigeria dey operate capitalist economy.

“If you look at my manifesto, the E part is everyday dignity. What it says is people should not pay rent that demystifies their dignity. And what that means is we must work with landlords. We understand that we run a capitalist economy,” e talk.

The issue of landlords demanding several years’ rent ahead don remain one major concern for tenants across Lagos, as many residents dey complain about the high cost of accommodation.

Under Section 4 of the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011, landlords and their agents no suppose demand more than one year rent in advance from new tenants.

The law also set limits for tenants wey already dey live inside rented apartments, depending on the type of tenancy agreement.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Government don also dey consider changes to its tenancy rules to address problems around rent increases, estate agent charges and disagreements between landlords and tenants.

However, the proposed changes to the 2025 law no suppose be mistaken as an already approved law without confirmation say dem don pass and officially begin to enforce am.