In the wake of the mega-city plan of the Lagos State Government and the regular influx of people from all over Nigeria, Africa and indeed, the world, it is necessary to start a discourse on affordable housing in the state, what could be the problems and how these can be solved.

In the light of this, at a forum organised by YNaija, Enough is Enough (EiE) and BudgIT, bringing together thought leaders, change agents and stakeholders, the dilemma of affordable housing took the centre stage with Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi (Deputy Director of Estate, Lagos State Ministry of Housing); Samuel Akinrolabu (Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation); Lookman Oshodi (Arctic Infrastructure); Ugochi Sylvia (Trashhaters) and Bimbo Osobe (Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation) on the panel.

The panellists spoke on “Affordable Housing in Lagos: Possibilities and challenges“.

When asked what the Lagos government is doing to ensure affordable and adequate housing facilities in Lagos, Patunola-Ajayi said, “It is not possible for all of us to own a house. The present administration is thinking of going into rental housing.”

The government understands the big problem of housing in Lagos and is doing a lot to ensure this problem is solved.

Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi (Deputy Director of Estate, Lagos State Ministry of Housing). #ThursdayTalks

— Y! Online (@YNaija) August 30, 2018

'Under the rent-to-home scheme, you pay 5% and the remaining amount is spread across 10 years' – Olayinka Petunola Ajayi (Lagos Ministry of Housing)@followlasg #ThursdayTalks pic.twitter.com/8g3vXrQqEZ

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) August 30, 2018

Speaking further, she said the scheme allows you make payment spread across ten years, “It strikes me that people spend a lot of money on things like recharge cards and find it hard to pay N75,000 monthly for Rent to Own scheme spread over 10 years.”

It strikes me that people spend a lot of money on things like recharge cards and find it hard to pay N75,000 monthly for Rent to Own scheme spread over 10 years.

– Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi#ThursdayTalks

— Y! Online (@YNaija) August 30, 2018

'There are over 7000 housing units put up for rent. The @followlasg Ministry of Housing is partnering with the public & by 2020 there should 20,000 housing units.' – Mrs Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi#ThursdayTalks

— Oladapo Awobeku (@DapoAwobeku) August 30, 2018

She adds, however, that there are a lot of projects to be carried out in Lagos and with the scramble and paucity of funds, affordable housing might seem too herculean – also considering the regular influx of people into the state.

All the money cannot go into housing because of the paucity of funds. But we are working with the public to ensure that people are housed.

– Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi#ThursdayTalks

— Y! Online (@YNaija) August 30, 2018

On waste disposal, Patunola-Ajayi said, “As citizens, as residents of Lagos, we need to exercise caution. We do not care that waste is a problem and that is an attitude we need to change. The government cannot do it alone.”

When asked how the government can solve the problem of agent fees and the issue of two-year rent asked by landlords, Patunola-Ajayi said there is a centre in place to receive such cases.

'If a landlord in #Lagos is asking you for two years rent (asides the highbrow areas – Lekki), you can lodge your complaints at Block 51, Lagos State secretariat.' – Mrs Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi (Ministry of Housing)#ThursdayTalks

— Oladapo Awobeku (@DapoAwobeku) August 30, 2018

To the same question of waste disposal, Ugochi Sylvia says there’s a disaster waiting to happen as the state has not planned well to ensure waste does not pose serious environmental and health problems for residents.

Because we haven't properly planned for waste disposal and the number of people in Lagos, it is a disaster waiting to happen.

– Ugochi Sylvia (Trashhaters, Lagos). #ThursdayTalks

— Y! Online (@YNaija) August 30, 2018

'People move to cities to survive. However, the cities were not build to accommodate this influx.
As people come in, there will an increase in waste produce. If this isn't managed, in the next 10 years, Lagos will explode.' – @sultrykat#ThursdayTalks

— Oladapo Awobeku (@DapoAwobeku) August 30, 2018

When you travel out and return, the stench reminds you that you're back in Nigeria. The stench is killing.

Unless we tell ourselves that it's killing us the problem won't be solved. #ThursdayTalks

— Y! Online (@YNaija) August 30, 2018

By the time we start to make laws with the intention to say enough is enough, things will begin to fall in line in regards to waste.

It's Awareness, Legislation and Advocacy.

– Ugochi Sylvia #ThursdayTalks

— Y! Online (@YNaija) August 30, 2018

On the problem of housing, Sylvia says it cannot stop unless other state governments begin to make their state self-sufficient, because the usual “promise” is that Lagos is where you go for ‘greener pastures’.

As long as people continue to come in to Lagos, there will always be a housing issue. Unless other state goverments begin to take up the responsibility of making their states self-sufficient.

Ugochi Sylvia #ThursdayTalks pic.twitter.com/tOWYP2L66k

— Y! Online (@YNaija) August 30, 2018

On slum and so-called informal settlements, Bimbo Osobe said the government should consider the dwellers in their plans rather than displace them totally.

Samuel Akinrolabu (Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation) speaking.

Join the conversation. #ThursdayTalks is a monthly conversation with thought leaders, change agents, active citizens.

Today's focus is "Affordable Housing in Lagos: Possibilities and challenges" pic.twitter.com/k8deVrpPGG

— Y! Online (@YNaija) August 30, 2018

'Rather than demolish the slum communities, the @followlasg, should engage the dwellers on how to proffer solutions.' – Bimbo Osobe#ThursdayTalks

— Oladapo Awobeku (@DapoAwobeku) August 30, 2018