By Henry Obetta

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the All Peoples Movement, APM, Prince Laja Adeoye, has criticised the Deputy Governor and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, over his advice to residents struggling with high rent to consider sharing apartments or living with their parents.

Adeoye described the comment as an admission of failure by the APC-led administration, arguing that government should provide practical solutions to the state’s housing crisis rather than ask residents to adjust to worsening living conditions.

Hamzat, in an interview during the week, had advised Lagos residents facing rising rental costs to consider sharing apartments or staying with their parents while building their finances, amid the state’s housing deficit.

Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Adeoye said the advice was “not a solution” to the housing crisis, stressing that the APC had been in power in Lagos for nearly three decades.

He said: “The solution to Lagos State’s housing crisis is not to tell residents to share apartments or continue living with their parents. That is not leadership; it is an admission of failure by the ruling APC, which has been at the saddle for nearly three decades, and Mr Obafemi Hamzat has been part and parcel of it as an insider.”

The APM candidate called for deliberate government intervention in the provision of affordable housing, alongside genuine Public-Private Partnerships capable of delivering homes to low- and middle-income earners.

He also cited the housing programme of the late former Lagos State governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, as evidence that government could provide affordable housing when there was sufficient political will.

Adeoye said “Alhaji Lateef Jakande showed it is possible. It is not rocket science. We only need the will to modernise and build on that proven approach.”

Linking the housing crisis to unemployment and low incomes, the APM candidate said his administration would empower at least 100,000 new entrepreneurs annually with capital to enable more Lagos residents to earn sustainable incomes.

He said “Lagos has the market and the population for these businesses to scale quickly. When people earn well, they can afford decent homes of their own without being forced to crowd into family houses or share cramped apartments.”

Adeoye maintained that governance should be centred on solving problems rather than asking citizens to manage scarcity.

“Governance is not about managing scarcity with lazy advice. It is about solving problems with clear, workable solutions.” he added.

He further accused the APC administration of prioritising political interests over people-oriented development, alleging that the ruling party had failed to pursue housing policies that adequately addressed the needs of ordinary Lagos residents.

“The ruling APC which Mr Hamzat represents will rather not do pro-people housing projects but do the bidding of his godfathers. An APM government in Lagos and in Nigeria will bring good governance to your doorstep; you will see the difference clearly.” Adeoye said.