Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the 2023 Lagos gubernatorial candidate for Labour Party, has issued a fervent call for urgent action to address the housing crisis gripping Lagos State.
Rhodes-Vivour denounced the dire situation faced by many low-income earners, highlighting the recent discovery of 86 individuals living under a bridge in makeshift shelters, paying exorbitant rents.
He emphasized the government’s neglect of its duty to ensure security and provide social housing for its citizens.
In a post on his X handle, Rhodes-Vivour stated, “As the call for social housing echoes across the city, all eyes are on the government to heed the rallying cry and take decisive action to ensure that every resident of Lagos has access to safe, secure, and affordable housing.
“We must strive to build a society in which the right to shelter is not restricted to a privileged few but a societal good that even low-income earners can enjoy.
“The discovery of 86 individuals living under a bridge in makeshift shelters, paying rent, is not just a local governance failure, but a stark example of the government’s neglect of its duty to ensure security and provide social housing.”
He added, “If people are willing to pay N250,000 to live under a bridge, it is clear that there is a pressing need for affordable housing. A responsible government should be asking how it can meet this need for low-income earners who can afford to pay between N150,000 and N250,000 a year.
“Instead, the Lagos state has criminalized a genuine desire and need by low-income earners to have shelter. People living in slums are forcibly evicted, and luxury apartments for the rich are built in their place. This practice is short-sighted and unsustainable.”
