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By Maduka Nweke
The Lagos state government has pledged to housing crisis in the state through innovation and robust public-private partnerships across multiple fronts. The delivery of over 11,000 housing units in nearly seven years under the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is clear evidence that the housing deficit can be effectively reduced.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mr. Abdulhafis Toriola, noted this while receiving Master’s students of the Centre for Planning Studies, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, on a courtesy visit to the Ministry recently.
He said that the visit was designed to expose the postgraduate students to the realities of housing administration, policy implementation and service delivery in Lagos State, while reinforcing the value of collaboration between academic institutions and government agencies.
Represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Akanji Shadare, Toriola commended the students and their lecturers for the initiative and applauded their desire to deepen their understanding of the practical application of academic concepts in the built environment.
He emphasised the need for the Centre and similar departments within the University community to continually share research outputs, innovative ideas, and solutions relevant to housing delivery.
On housing investment, the General Manager of Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC), represented by Mrs. Olabisi Funsho-Peters, Head, Mortgage and Credit Department, engaged the students and staff, highlighting the critical role of mortgage institutions in the real estate value chain. She explained that LBIC is an accredited mortgage bank insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), providing mortgage loans strictly for housing purposes, with up to 70 per cent financing and repayment tenures of 10 years and above.
Also addressing the team, the Executive Director, Enterprise Services, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), Mr. Adeniyi Aromolaran, outlined the Corporation’s mandate in providing real estate services, including construction, sale, and rental of properties. He clarified, however, that LSDPC does not engage in social housing.
Earlier, the Programme Coordinator, Centre for Planning Studies, LASU, Professor Aliyu Ibrahim, stated that the visit is aimed to provide firsthand insight into how housing policies and data are generated and managed. He identified four key takeaways: understanding how the Ministry coordinates housing provision across public and private sectors; how housing investment is undertaken; the challenges affecting housing delivery; and how housing provision and distribution have evolved in Lagos State.
In his remarks, the Director of the Centre, Professor Fatai, noted that the Centre, established in 1989, organized the visit to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical experience. He added that the engagement was particularly important, as much of the housing data used in academic institutions is sourced from the Ministry of Housing.
