The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Deji Doherty, has promised to rent houses from property owners and sublet them to residents if elected governor in 2027.
Doherty said the proposal was aimed at addressing the rising cost of accommodation and making housing more accessible to low-income earners across the state.
He made the disclosure during the 2026 Lagos Governorship Debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, a coalition comprising The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable and Vanguard.
Explaining his housing plan, the PDP candidate said the government could not effectively control private landlords but could provide an alternative by participating directly in the rental market.
“There is no landlord and there is no government that can control a landlord. There is none. What is going to happen is this. What we’re going to do is very simple. We are going to rent those houses ourselves and then you come and rent from us if you want to,” he said.
Doherty argued that the state government must become a major player in property development to compete with private landlords and reduce accommodation costs.
“Government has to be the highest developers in the state. If they cannot compete with the landlords, then let us forget it,” he added.
He also called for low-cost housing and long-term lease arrangements, noting that many workers in Lagos struggle to afford accommodation on their monthly salaries.
Questioning how workers earning the minimum wage could secure decent accommodation, Doherty said the high cost of rent had forced some residents to live in neighbouring communities in Ogun State.
“Minimum wage in Lagos State is probably ₦120,000, I hope. At the end of the day, ₦120,000 per month, where are you going to get which house?” he asked.
He maintained that the government must take practical steps to address the housing crisis rather than rely on promises.
