The Lagos State Government has renewed its call for sweeping policy reforms to unlock Nigeria’s housing market, stressing that urgent action is needed to address the nation’s widening housing deficit.
EpeInsights learnt that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barr. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, while speaking at the ongoing BRG Developers Summit 2025 in Morocco, urged stakeholders to reposition government’s role from a barrier to a true enabler of private sector-driven housing delivery.
Delivering a keynote address themed “Government as Enabler or Obstacle? Policy Reforms Needed to Unlock Nigeria’s Housing Market Potential,” Odunuga-Bakare identified reforms to the Land Use Act, tax policies, and investment incentives as critical to boosting the sector.
She noted that provisions of the 1978 Land Use Act have created delays in land ownership, registration, and titling, all of which raise transaction costs and discourage investors. She pointed to Lagos innovations such as the Lagos State Geographic Information System (LAGIS), which is digitalising land registries and streamlining approvals, as a step toward resolving these challenges.
On taxation, she emphasised that VAT and multiple levies on building materials have significantly inflated construction costs, limiting access to affordable housing. According to her, Lagos is addressing this through harmonised fees on the Lagos Revenue Portal (LRP) to enhance transparency and attract more private sector participation.
Odunuga-Bakare also underscored the importance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), citing Lagos’ Rent-to-Own and LagosHoms initiatives as practical examples of collaboration. She added that the State is standardising PPP frameworks, promoting the use of local building materials, and introducing subsidies to drive affordability.
“The real estate sector is not just about land and property—it is about shaping lives, creating opportunities, and building a sustainable future. To unlock Nigeria’s housing potential, policies must evolve from regulatory dominance to transparent reforms and workable incentives that enable private investment,” she said.
She reaffirmed that Lagos, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, remains committed to creating a housing market that balances investor confidence with citizens’ aspirations for decent and affordable homes.
