Lagos State government has declared that its various housing schemes being developed across that state is expected to deliver 50 new housing units every month.

Governor Babatunde Fashola who stated this recently in Lagos, at the commissioning of the first traffic radio station in Nigeria, lamented that mortgages have not been successful in the country due to reasons associated with high cost of fund, land and building materials. “Every month 50 new home owners will emerge through the various housing schemes of government,” he said.

Fashola also restated government’s commitment to the State Tenancy Law, which makes it unlawful for a landlord or his agent to demand or receive rent in excess of six months from a sitting tenant.

Under the law, it is illegal for any landlord to receive more than a year rent from a new tenant otherwise he will pay a fine of N100,000 or be sentenced to three years imprisonment. It is also unlawful for a tenant to offer to pay more than a year rent even though it gives room for the two parties to sign a tenancy agreement.

The governor said the law was put in place to protect both the landlord and tenant stressing that where a tenant goes against the dictates of the law by clandestinely paying above what the law stipulates, he will not get any relief from the court.

Also speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, said tax payers money will be used to facilitate single digit interest on mortgage to provide affordable homes to the ordinary man on the street. He further disclosed that the ongoing construction of the Lagos/Badagry expressway will be speeded up as soon as government secures the right of way and the required fund.