Gbadebo Rhodes‑Vivour, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Lagos State governorship, used a Sunday debate to accuse successive administrations of failing to translate the state’s high internally generated revenue (IGR) into improved living conditions for ordinary residents.
Speaking at the Lagos Governorship Debate organised by a consortium of media organisations that included TheCable, Rhodes‑Vivour said that over the past two decades government policies had largely favoured wealthy residents, especially in the area of affordable housing.
He singled out the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) for concentrating its housing projects in high‑income neighbourhoods, arguing that the approach pushed vulnerable residents further away from affordable accommodation. The demolition of homes in Makoko was cited as an example of policies that, in his view, failed to protect low‑income communities despite earlier assurances.
Rhodes‑Vivour pledged that his administration would place low‑income residents at the centre of its housing policy, targeting the delivery of more than 100,000 units and implementing a transparent allocation system to prevent individuals from acquiring multiple units at the expense of other applicants.
He also proposed a progressive housing arrangement that would allow residents to move into larger homes as their earnings and family responsibilities increased. Under the plan, young people leaving school could start with self‑contained apartments, progress to two‑bedroom homes after marriage and qualify for three‑bedroom houses as their families expanded. Residents would accumulate credit or points that could later be applied toward securing a mortgage.
“On paper Lagos celebrates a high IGR, but on the ground people are not experiencing the benefits of coming from a state that is this rich,” Rhodes‑Vivour said, underscoring the disconnect between revenue generation and tangible improvements in housing for the majority of Lagosians.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
