… Special Adviser Odunuga-Bakare Woos Investors at BRG Developers Summit in Morocco
The Lagos State Government has called for sweeping policy reforms to unlock Nigeria’s housing market and bridge the country’s persistent housing deficit.
Speaking at the BRG Developers Summit 2025 in Morocco, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Housing, Barr. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, stressed that government must evolve from being perceived as an obstacle to becoming a genuine enabler of private sector-led housing delivery.
Delivering a keynote address on the theme, “Government as Enabler or Obstacle? Policy Reforms Needed to Unlock Nigeria’s Housing Market Potential”, Odunuga-Bakare identified several critical areas requiring urgent intervention, including the Land Use Act, taxation policies, and incentives for affordable housing.
She noted that the Land Use Act of 1978 continues to create bottlenecks in land ownership, registration, and titling, which raise transaction costs and discourage private investment. According to her, Lagos State is tackling these issues through initiatives such as the Lagos State Geographic Information System (LAGIS), which digitalises land registries and speeds up approvals.
On taxation, she decried the impact of VAT and multiple levies on building materials, which inflate construction costs and restrict affordability. To address this, she explained, the state has harmonised fees through the Lagos Revenue Portal (LRP) to improve transparency and encourage investment.
Odunuga-Bakare further highlighted the significance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in bridging the housing gap, citing successful models such as LagosHoms and the Rent-to-Own schemes. She added that the government is working to establish a standardised PPP framework, promote the use of local building materials, and implement subsidy programmes to enhance access to affordable housing.
“The real estate sector is not just about land and property transactions; it is about creating an enabling environment, shaping lives, and building a sustainable future. To unlock housing potentials, policies must move from regulatory dominance to enabling private investment through transparent reforms and workable incentives,” she said.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment, Odunuga-Bakare assured that Lagos State remains focused on fostering a housing market that is attractive to investors while meeting citizens’ aspirations for affordable and decent homes.