NBA Backs Lagos Anti-Street Begging Bill, Demands Safeguards

The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has backed a proposed law to prohibit street begging and street urchins in the state, but urged the House of Assembly to strengthen its provisions and ensure enforcement does not criminalise poverty or violate the rights of vulnerable people.

The Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, Uchenna Akingbade, stated this at a public hearing on the proposed Street Begging and Street Urchins (Prohibition, Prevention and Rehabilitation) Bill 2026 at the Lagos State House of Assembly earlier this week.

The NBA said the legislation was necessary to address the use of children for begging, obstruction of public spaces and cases of violent or coercive solicitation, but called for clear safeguards around arrest, detention and rehabilitation.

Akingbade said the situation was particularly concerning along the Lekki-Epe corridor and called for urgent intervention, including the possibility of declaring a state of emergency in identified flashpoints.

He urged the lawmakers to remove ambiguity from the proposed offence of “loitering for the purpose of begging” and called for tougher penalties where people engaged in begging were found carrying dangerous weapons.

The NBA chairman also called for more rehabilitation centres, arguing that enforcement should be accompanied by measures to address the circumstances that leave vulnerable people on the streets.

The association stressed that children found begging should be treated as children in need of care and protection and handled separately from adult offenders under the Lagos State Child Rights Law.

It also called for stronger penalties against adults who exploit children for begging, alongside due process, court oversight and defined limits on detention and rehabilitation.

 

ADVERTORIAL

For detailed information on our editing services, please see inside

 

The proposed law would establish a rehabilitation-centred enforcement regime. First-time offenders would be cautioned and taken to rehabilitation centres, while subsequent offences could attract a fine or imprisonment of up to three months. Serial offenders could face up to two years in prison.

The rehabilitation programme contemplated by the bill includes temporary care, vocational training, literacy programmes, psychological counselling, life-skills training and welfare support.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Abiodun Orekoya, said the Assembly recognised that street begging was not merely a question of public order.

He said the issue had security, socio-economic, developmental and child-protection dimensions, insisting that the legislative response must be “firm and humane”.

Orekoya said vulnerable children found on the streets should be protected rather than merely punished, adding that the proposed framework was intended to provide for their care, education, rehabilitation and possible reintegration into their families and communities.

He also stressed that enforcement must respect the fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, including protection against torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and unlawful detention.

Speaking on behalf of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, White Cap Chief Gbolahan Oki said arrests had failed to deter some offenders because they expected to regain their freedom shortly after being detained.

“The culprits don’t see arrest as anything because they know the police nets are filled up and they know they will be out soon,” Oki said.

He proposed a rehabilitation model based on productive work, referring to the traditional Itekule concept under which offenders could be made to contribute through activities such as bread production.

“What can curb the menace is to be subjected to two years of hard work,” he said.

The proposed law has also drawn calls for differentiated treatment of people whose presence on the streets may be linked to mental health conditions.

The Executive Director of Elixir Trust Foundation, Emmanuel Ikule, urged the Assembly to provide for people begging with mental health challenges to be referred to appropriate psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities.

Ikule cited Pen Cinema and Ojodu-Berger as areas where, he alleged, some people had used knives at night to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.

A counselling psychologist, Suliat Olaniran, also raised concerns about alleged cases in which dangerous weapons were used to compel people to give money at night.

The bill also seeks to prevent the exploitation of children by prohibiting parents, guardians and custodians from using or permitting children to engage in street begging or hawking.

Children apprehended under the proposed law would be dealt with under the Lagos State Child Rights Law and referred to child-welfare authorities.

The NBA, however, said the proposed law should target harmful conduct and exploitation rather than poverty, homelessness or disability.

It also called for the agency to be created under the legislation to have clearly defined responsibilities, adequate government funding, financial accountability and safeguards for the personal data of children and adults brought within the system.

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, who represented the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, said the proposed law was not intended to deprive anyone of their rights and welcomed support from private organisations in tackling the problem.

The bill envisages collaboration among government agencies, the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, traditional institutions, religious organisations, families, communities, schools, civil society groups and the private sector.

  

Read More

Lagos Tightens Security At Badagry Border Over Child Theft

The Lagos State Government has stepped up measures to tackle child theft and illegal abduction in the Badagry axis, identifying the area’s border location as a factor facilitating the activities of suspected child traffickers.

The Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, disclosed this during the state’s bi-monthly meeting with heads of security agencies and parliamentary affairs in Ikeja.

Salu-Hundeyin said the government had intensified its security meetings to ensure that emerging threats were identified and addressed at the grassroots.

She said the meetings, previously held quarterly, were now conducted every two months because of emerging security concerns across the state.

“It’s another bi-monthly meeting with the Head of Parliamentary Affairs and Heads of Security Agencies of the state. First, let me tell you, it’s no more quarterly. It’s bi-monthly now. So, we meet more often because we’ve realised that there are security issues,” she said.

According to the SSG, child theft was among the major issues discussed at the meeting, with reports indicating that the Badagry axis had become a hotspot for criminal activity.

“I want to tell you one of the touching ones about child theft. I call it child theft. You know, people that steal other people’s children and go and sell them.

“And this is so sad because, in this particular case, the woman has been charged to court. So, I can talk about it. And they even have a kind of clinic. She does it in conjunction with her own husband. You know, it’s really sad,” she said.

 

ADVERTORIAL

For detailed information on our editing services, please see inside

 

She explained that Badagry’s location along an international border made it easier for suspects involved in child trafficking to evade arrest.

“According to the report, most of this particular criminal activity happens mostly around the Badagry axis. Why we are talking about data and knowing locations is so that we know why it is happening there and what can be done. It’s simply because Badagry is a border town. So, they can easily escape,” Salu-Hundeyin said.

She added that the state government would increase security infrastructure in the area, including the installation of additional security lights.

“So, we now know that we have to put more lights, I mean, security lights, on that area,” she said.

Salu-Hundeyin further disclosed that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons would provide the state government with updated statistics on child trafficking cases, including convictions and pending cases.

“And the NAPTIP officer had promised to give us accurate statistics. I can’t tell you those statistics now because she didn’t come with the accurate ones. But she was able to tell us how many convictions are pending, those that have been convicted and all that, and the areas that they happen,” she said.

The SSG said the government was coordinating efforts through relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministries of Youth and Women Affairs, to combat child theft and trafficking.

“Because when we’re talking about children, we’re talking about the future of the country, the future of the state. It’s very saddening that people will do that to innocent children. And so, we’re not taking it easy,” she said.

Salu-Hundeyin also linked some criminal activities to mental health concerns, saying the state government was expanding mental health infrastructure as part of its broader response to social challenges.

She disclosed that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was building what she described as the biggest mental health hospital in Africa, which she said would soon be commissioned.

The SSG said the state was also strengthening community-level security through the Lagos State Neighbourhood Watch and regular engagements with local government secretaries, Community Development Committees and Community Development Associations.

“We also hold meetings with the secretaries of the local governments. We also discuss security issues there so that they can go back to communities, CDCs and CDAs. We can see what’s going on,” she said.

Salu-Hundeyin also disclosed that the meeting examined concerns over the safety of some bridges in the state following reports from a representative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

She said the concerns would be forwarded to the relevant ministries, departments and agencies for necessary action.

Meanwhile, during a separate meeting with members of the Lagos Police Community Relations Committee, Salu-Hundeyin commended the organisation for its proactive approach to security and community engagement.

She said the committee’s activities had complemented the efforts of the state government and security agencies in promoting peace and safety across Lagos.

“If I say that we’re not always grateful to you, it’s an understatement. We’re really grateful because the office is being seen the way it is seen because of what you’re doing. So I would say that we are because you are,” she said.

The SSG particularly praised the committee’s efforts to educate residents on electoral processes, noting that voter education could help reduce election-related violence.

She said, “If you teach people how to conduct themselves before and during an election, it’s also a security issue. Because people will then know you’re educating them on their rights as voters.”

Salu-Hundeyin urged the committee to sustain its public enlightenment campaigns ahead of future elections, stressing that elections should be seen as a civic responsibility rather than a conflict.

“We’ve spoken to DPOs, we’ve spoken to all that, to say that, look, how do people tend to appreciate that election is not war? It is a civic duty that we must perform to make sure that we exercise our democratic rights and to have whoever we desire to lead us,” she said.

She added that voter education would help residents understand that elections gave them the power to freely choose their leaders.

“Election, the way I see what you’re doing, is like a mirror of governance, kind of, that if you exercise your rights well, you will get the right government you want. And people need to know that, especially at this time,” Salu-Hundeyin said.

  

Read More

Lagos To Construct 1,086-Metre Road In Igando-Ikotun LCDA

The Lagos State Government has flagged off the construction of the 1,086-metre Alhaji Ashafa, Alhaji Ogundimu and Tunde Olufoye Streets in Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Alimosho.

This is as part of its “no community left behind” infrastructure push under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu with the Lagos State Government restating its commitment to infrastructure development across communities, assuring residents that no area will be left behind in its development agenda.

Officials including the Special Adviser on Rural Development and local leaders spoke at the ceremony, stressing improved connectivity, reduced travel time, economic boost, and job creation in semi-urban areas.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the ceremony by his Special Adviser on Rural Development, Dr. Nurudeen Yekinni Agbaje, noted that the event was not merely about the commencement of another road project, but a clear demonstration of the unwavering commitment of the State Government to delivering sustainable development to communities across Lagos.

 

ADVERTORIAL

For detailed information on our editing services, please see inside

 

He described the project as a testament to the administration’s resolve to ensure that the benefits of good governance reach every part of the State, including rural and semi-urban communities.

Dr. Agbaje explained that the Office of Rural Development had, in September, flagged off about eight road projects across different communities, describing the initiative as another step towards building a more connected, inclusive and prosperous Lagos.

He said the projects were in line with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s vision of ensuring that infrastructure development reaches communities at the grassroots and that no community is left behind.

In his goodwill message, the Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Alimosho Constituency II, Hon. Kehinde Joseph, represented by Comrade Raheem Akeem, described the project as a testament to the commitment of the Lagos State Government to delivering the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of residents.

He said the project would provide lasting solutions to some of the challenges confronting residents and businesses within the community.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for approving the project and for his continued commitment to infrastructure development across Lagos State.

She noted that the construction of the roads would boost socio-economic activities, reduce travel time and create employment opportunities for residents of the community.

The Executive Chairman of Igando-Ikotun LCDA, Comrade Lasisi Akinsanya, represented by the Secretary to the Local Government, Mrs. Mojisola Badmus, also expressed appreciation to the State Government for the project.

Badmus noted that since the inception of the Sanwo-Olu administration, the Igando-Ikotun LCDA has benefited immensely from various government interventions and developmental projects.

She, however, urged members of the community to cooperate with the contractor handling the project to ensure that the work was completed within the stipulated scope and timeframe.

  

Read More

Over 400 Exhibitors Storm Lagos For Beauty West Africa Show

More than 400 exhibitors and 7,000 beauty professionals from across the world are expected in Lagos for the 2026 Beauty West Africa exhibition.

The three-day trade exhibition will take place from November 24 to 26 at the Landmark Centre, Lagos.

The organisers disclosed this in a statement on Friday that the event would occupy six exhibition halls for the first time, following growing international interest in Nigeria’s beauty industry.

According to them, the exhibition will feature about 60,000 products, more than 380 hosted buyers and participants from over 60 countries.

The expansion comes amid increased interest from international manufacturers and beauty brands seeking access to Nigeria and other African markets.

Nigeria’s beauty and cosmetics import market is estimated at more than $1.1bn, according to data provided by the organisers.

They explained that the exhibition would connect manufacturers with importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and other industry decision-makers.

 

ADVERTORIAL

For detailed information on our editing services, please see inside

 

More than 380 pre-qualified buyers are expected from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin Republic, Togo, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa.

Advertisement

The organisers said the platform would help international manufacturers find distributors capable of taking their products into different African markets.

Nigerian businesses will also have direct access to global manufacturers without travelling abroad to source products or negotiate supply agreements.

The exhibition will feature cosmetics, skincare products, haircare solutions, fragrances, packaging materials and beauty technology.

Korean skincare brands will have a dedicated section supported by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.

The section will allow African buyers to meet Korean manufacturers and discuss distribution opportunities.

“More than 200 luxury and niche fragrance brands are also expected to participate as demand for Middle Eastern and other international fragrances grows across Africa.
“African companies producing products for the skin, hair and beauty needs of local consumers will also showcase their brands,” the statement read in part.

International pavilions representing China, Turkey, Pakistan, South Korea and Taiwan are expected at the exhibition.

The organisers said about 70 per cent of the hosted buyers were involved in product importation and distribution.

Other expected participants include retailers, salon and spa operators, manufacturers, make-up artists and senior business executives.

A previous exhibitor and representative of Kegosh Limited, Tobi Jonathan, said the exhibition helped the company connect with distributors from Nigeria and other West African countries.
The organisers added that the move to six halls would create more space for exhibitors, buyers and business meetings.

They said the exhibition would also give Nigerian beauty companies an opportunity to present locally developed products to international buyers.

  

Read More

Celebration Galore As WAPA Empowers Over 6000 Lagos Trainees

THE Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to economic inclusion and human capital development as 6,190 trainees from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Free Skills Acquisition Centres officially passed out.

The graduation ceremony for the 2025 cohort, which held on Tuesday at De Blue Roof, Lagos Television (LTV), Agidingbi, Ikeja, brought together state executives, legislative leaders, community stakeholders and families to celebrate the beneficiaries’ transition into self-reliance.

Delivering his goodwill message, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, emphasized that technical and vocational training under his administration’s THEMES+ agenda is designed to move beyond mere certification to creating sustainable enterprise and wealth creation.

“Today, we celebrate 6,190 Lagosians who have acquired more than vocational skills, they have acquired the capacity to create value, earn a living, and build a future,” Sanwo-Olu stated. “Training alone is not enough. If you learn tailoring but have no sewing machine, or acquire baking skills without the equipment to start production, the journey remains incomplete.”

 

ADVERTORIAL

For detailed information on our editing services, please see inside

 

The Governor explained that the state has established a structured pipeline connecting skill acquisition directly with enterprise support.

He cited the recent 2026 Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI), which empowered over 3,800 residents, including top-performing WAPA graduates, with functional tools, startup kits and industrial equipment.

He urged the newly trained artisans to deploy digital tools to expand their market reach, maintain professional integrity and mentor others within their local communities.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, stated that the tuition-free centres strategically serve the five IBILE divisions of the state, with particular focus on women, unemployed youths and residents in riverine communities.

“Our vision is to build a society where women, young people and vulnerable members of our communities have access to practical skills and support that enable them to become active contributors to the economy,” Dada said.

In her vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Rianat Ajibike Onigbanjo, commended the Governor for prioritizing grassroots empowerment. She also recognized the legislative support of the Chairman, House Committee on WAPA, Omolara Oyekan, and lauded the efforts of the Head of the Skills Acquisition Development Unit, Mrs. Olajumoke Yusuf, along with the instructional staff across the state’s centres.

Key Highlights of the WAPA Initiative are, tuition-free training across fashion design, catering, photography, beauty therapy, agricultural processing and technical crafts across the state. Direct integration of top-performing trainees into the state’s Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI) for equipment distribution. Strategic outreach targeting women, youth, and vulnerable groups across Lagos State’s 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas.

  

Read More

Lagos To Deploy 220 Trucks For Waste Evacuation — Hamzat

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has said the state would increase its waste evacuation capacity with an additional 220 trucks.

This comes barely two months after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that the state would soon take delivery of 150 compactor trucks to tackle waste evacuation.

Hamzat said this while addressing journalists during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise held in Festac, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of the state today.

He noted that the new trucks would supplement the existing Private Sector Participation waste collection system.

He said the trucks would help the government respond to the growing volume of waste generated across the state as a result of population growth.

“The state government will be bringing in another 220 trucks to make sure that we supplement our PSP. What we need our people to also do is to make sure that they patronise their PSP, not the cart pushers, because they are not organised. You don’t know where the waste is ending up,” he said.

ADVERTORIAL

For detailed information on our editing services, please see inside

 

Reacting to a question on the waste situation in Lagos, Hamzat said the increasing number of people living and working in the state meant more waste was generated daily, making residents’ cooperation essential to effective waste management.

“A lot of people are coming to Lagos, and therefore they generate waste. So part of what you can see that we are doing is that we are getting many more trucks to actually go and evacuate,” he said.

He said residents had a responsibility to ensure that waste was properly disposed of, stressing that refuse dumped in canals could obstruct water flow and worsen flooding.

The deputy governor said the state government was encouraging communities across Lagos to organise regular environmental sanitation exercises, with the target of having residents clean their surroundings at least once a month.

“We cannot be a people without a healthy environment. It doesn’t matter what we do, a cleaner environment is what makes a city or a state sustainable,” he said.

Hamzat also urged residents to take personal responsibility for maintaining clean surroundings and use approved waste collection channels.

He said the government’s community engagement was aimed at encouraging residents to develop a culture of maintaining clean surroundings and creating a healthier environment for children and other residents.

Addressing environmental management in the Festac area, Hamzat noted that the Federal Housing Authority had responsibilities in the district but said residents and property managers were still required to comply with Lagos State environmental regulations.

He, however, stressed that the state government remained committed to ensuring that the environment was sustainable and conducive for residents.

Hamzat commended the local government chairman and residents for their participation in the sanitation exercise, saying community involvement was essential to sustaining environmental cleanliness across Lagos.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said waste management in the state was improving, attributing the progress to the deployment of 24-hour emergency response teams and measures to address challenges at landfills and dumpsites.

Wahab said the state government had also intensified engagement with PSP operators to improve waste collection across the state, noting that the government had intervened in areas where the Lagos State Waste Management Authority would ordinarily not operate.

He said the government had assured PSP operators of its support to enable them to improve waste collection, adding that residents were expected to pay for services rendered in line with the polluter-pays principle.

The commissioner said the arrangement would ensure that PSP operators were adequately supported while residents received the services for which they paid.

According to him, the government was also transitioning from the traditional linear waste management system, where waste is collected and dumped, to a circular system in which waste is recovered and converted into useful resources.

Wahab said the transition had led to the development of material recovery facilities in Badagry and Epe, as well as transfer stations at Soluyi and Olusosun.

On the activities of cart pushers, the commissioner said the government was engaging them but would not adopt measures that could create greater environmental and security challenges in the future.

He said investigations had shown that waste collected by some cart pushers was often dumped in drainage channels and road medians, contributing to environmental problems and flooding.

Wahab also expressed concern over reports linking some cart pushers to criminal activities, including the cutting and theft of metals, saying the government could not adopt a policy that would worsen security challenges in the state.

  

Read More

Lagos Moves To Turn Transport Data Into Carbon Finance

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and the Lagos State Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy are working on a framework to measure emissions from the state’s transport system, a move that could help Lagos quantify the climate benefits of its mass transit investments and access emerging carbon-financing opportunities.

The collaboration was discussed when a delegation from the Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy, led by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Titilayo Oshodi, visited LAMATA’s headquarters.

The engagement, which held recently, centred on establishing a reliable system for measuring transport-related emissions as Lagos expands electric mobility, rail transportation and other lower-emission mass transit options.

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Engr Abimbola Akinajo, said credible emissions data would be essential to determining the environmental impact of the state’s transport investments and identifying further opportunities to cut carbon emissions.

ADVERTORIAL

For detailed information on our editing services, please see inside

 

She said the authority’s growing portfolio of electric and low-emission public transport projects provided a platform for Lagos to pursue its climate objectives while improving mobility for millions of commuters.

Akinajo said the transport sector could generate more than mobility benefits if Lagos developed the systems required to measure and verify its environmental gains.

“Reliable data would be critical to measuring the environmental impact of transport investments, identifying further opportunities for emissions reduction and positioning Lagos to benefit from emerging global climate-financing mechanisms,” she said.

The meeting also featured a demonstration of the DecarbonIQ Intelligence Platform, a technology platform developed to measure, monitor and manage carbon emissions across transport networks.

The platform includes an emissions-reduction advisory function that can help transport authorities analyse their emissions and identify areas where carbon reductions could be achieved.

It is also designed to provide a unified source of emissions data that can be tracked, validated and verified.

A major focus of the demonstration was the platform’s connection with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which provides a framework for countries to cooperate in meeting climate targets, including through internationally transferable mitigation outcomes and carbon-market mechanisms.

Oshodi stressed the need for Lagos to establish a verified single source of carbon data, particularly as the state commits more resources to electric mobility, rail and other low-carbon transport infrastructure.

She identified transportation as a strategic sector in the state’s climate agenda, making reliable emissions data necessary for measuring the impact of ongoing investments.

The engagement therefore moves the conversation around Lagos’ transport decarbonisation beyond the deployment of electric buses, rail infrastructure and other cleaner mobility options to the question of how the resulting environmental benefits can be measured and potentially converted into access to green finance.

LAMATA said it was prepared to work with OCCE and other stakeholders on data-driven frameworks for sustainable transport and explore ways of combining technology, verified emissions data and infrastructure investment.

The authority said such collaboration could strengthen Lagos’ ability to demonstrate the climate benefits of its mass transit projects improve access to climate finance and accelerate the development of a cleaner and more resilient urban transport system.

  

Read More

Lagos rents Rise By 120 Percent , Outpacing Wage Growth - Report

Lagos rents have risen by as much as 120 per cent in two years, far outpacing wage growth of between seven and nine per cent, as the state’s housing market faces an estimated annual capital shortfall of about N6 trillion, a new report by GTI Investment Group has revealed.

The report, “Beyond Rent:  Mapping Lagos’ Housing-Led Capital Expansion”, produced by GTI Group, was presented at a forum themed “Housing, Capital and the Future of Lagos” held in Lagos.

Presenting the report, Head of Research and Strategy, GTI Group, Abiodun Ogunniyi, said the estimated annual housing capital gap was about three times Lagos State’s N2.337 trillion 2026 capital budget.

The report, based on more than 3,200 rental listings across 15 zones, said Lagos’ property price-to-income ratio had risen to 19.2 times, above Cairo’s 18.4, Nairobi’s 11.5, Cape Town’s 5.4 and Durban’s 4.2.

GTI said a ratio above five was generally considered severely unaffordable, adding that more than 70 per cent of Lagos households were effectively priced out of home ownership. The report attributed much of the increase in property prices to infrastructure and location premiums, rather than income growth.

 

ADVERTORIAL

For detailed information on our editing services, please see inside

 

Delivering the keynote address, Director of the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos, Prof. Timothy Nubi, said Nigeria’s housing challenge was largely a capital problem rather than a shortage of buildings.

“We do not have a housing crisis; we have a capital architecture problem. Design the system and the city will build itself,” Nubi said.

He said real estate contributed only about 0.5 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, compared with between 18 and 20 per cent in the United States and United Kingdom.

Nubi also pointed to the country’s pension industry, whose assets have exceeded N31 trillion, as a largely untapped source of housing finance.

According to the GTI report, regulators allow up to 30 per cent of pension assets to be invested in instruments such as Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), mortgages and asset-backed securities, but actual exposure to real estate is about five per cent.

Nubi illustrated the affordability challenge with the case of a 46-year-old University of Lagos lecturer with 10 years of service who was offered a two-bedroom apartment in Badagry for N28 million despite earning less than N250,000 monthly.

He warned that rising demand would put further pressure on the housing market as Lagos’ population is projected to increase from about 20 million to 40 million over the next 25 years. He called for reforms in land administration, mortgage financing and infrastructure delivery to address the problem.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Abdulhafiz Toriola, said government could not meet the state’s housing needs alone and called for greater private sector participation.

Toriola said government needed to provide land and infrastructure, streamline approvals and introduce investment incentives to attract more private capital into housing. He said the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority had helped improve the investment environment but stressed the need for faster land title processing and stronger public-private partnerships.

GTI proposed a four-part capital reform framework involving micro-title regularisation, an infrastructure value capture authority, land equity trusts and a rental-equity REIT.

The report estimated that the proposed measures could close between 45 and 65 per cent of the housing funding gap. It also identified 10 entry points for retail investors, including cooperative societies and NGX-listed REITs, with some requiring an initial investment of as little as N5,000.

The forum brought together developers, investors, regulators and financial institutions, with speakers stressing the need to improve access to long-term capital if Lagos is to bridge its growing housing affordability gap.

  

Read More

New Military Jetty To Be Unveiled In Lagos

Nigeria is intensifying efforts to strengthen its indigenous defence industry, with plans to establish local production lines for armoured vehicles, anti-drone systems and other specialised military equipment.

The initiative is being driven by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria–D7G (DICON-D7G) in partnership with Eagles International for Defence Systems, with the objective of increasing technology transfer, expanding domestic manufacturing capacity and reducing the country’s dependence on imported military hardware.

DICON-D7G is also planning a strategic military jetty in Lagos within three months.

The Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Mr Osman Chennar, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen, following a two-day inspection tour of factories and military production facilities in Cairo by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and his delegation.

 

ADVERTORIAL

For detailed information on our editing services, please see inside

 

Chennar said the partnership would create more than 200 jobs while also providing employment opportunities for about 100 retired military personnel.

He said, “The partnership is expected to create employment for over 200 workers, in addition to providing opportunities for approximately 100 retired military personnel.”

According to him, the arrangement would facilitate the transfer of advanced defence technologies to Nigeria and enable the country to manufacture a wider range of military platforms for its armed forces and potentially other African countries.

Among the platforms targeted under the partnership are the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6, Armoured Personnel Carrier cabin, 120mm manual mortar launcher cabin, and medical evacuation and ambulance cabins.

Others include the MRAP-Buffalo U.10 and M.12 armoured vehicles, MRAP-Buffalo F-4, Rhino Guard GXR anti-drone and RPG-protected vehicle, APC Moon PT6, GXR Phantom light vehicle and BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

Chennar said the development was part of a broader strategy to build a sustainable Nigerian defence manufacturing ecosystem capable of designing, assembling and producing military equipment locally.

The initiative comes as the Nigerian Army continues to receive locally manufactured armoured vehicles as part of efforts to strengthen indigenous defence production and enhance operational capacity.

Beyond vehicle manufacturing, DICON-D7G is also planning the development of a dedicated military jetty in Lagos to support the movement of raw materials, components and finished military equipment.

Chennar said the facility would serve as a strategic logistics hub for the supply and distribution of military equipment within Nigeria and across the African continent.

He further disclosed that the military jetty was expected to be launched within the next two to three months.

He added, “DICON-D7G has planned the launching of its Military Jetty in Lagos that will provide employment to over 200 retired military personnel with over 1,000 civilians when the project takes off in the next two to three months.”

The emerging defence-industrial strategy is expected to have wider economic implications, including retaining defence expenditure within the domestic economy, developing specialised technical skills and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign suppliers.

The company said the planned facilities and production lines would ultimately position Nigeria to sustain its armed forces with locally produced equipment during prolonged security operations while creating the capacity to serve defence markets across Africa.

  

Read More