Rhodes-Vivour made the commitment during the 2027 Lagos State governorship debate organised by Channels Television, TVC, Punch Newspapers, Vanguard Newspapers and The Cable on Sunday.
He said his proposed housing programme would prioritise low- and middle-income earners rather than the wealthy, arguing that government intervention should focus on citizens who cannot independently afford decent accommodation.
The ADC candidate also promised to introduce a transparent allocation system to ensure that the housing units reach their intended beneficiaries and prevent individuals from acquiring multiple properties under the scheme.
“The elites, the rich can do for themselves. The government role is to lift up people that cannot do for themselves, and this comes into housing to ensuring that we deliver 100,000 plus housing units and make it affordable, so that it is transparently allocatable. We are not going to have a situation where one person can own ten units,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
He explained that the initiative would form part of a broader housing and economic empowerment policy aimed particularly at helping young people achieve financial independence after completing their education.
According to him, the programme would provide opportunities for young graduates and other young residents to begin their independent lives in affordable self-contained apartments before gradually moving into larger accommodation as their financial circumstances improve.
Rhodes-Vivour argued that access to affordable housing should not remain a privilege reserved for high-income earners, insisting that government policies must address the accommodation needs of ordinary Lagos residents.
Beyond the proposed construction of new housing units, he also pledged to introduce legislation to protect tenants against arbitrary increases in rent.
He said the proposed law would require landlords to give tenants at least six months’ notice before increasing rent, while also establishing guidelines to regulate the percentage of any proposed increase.
“There must be a legislation that ensures that tenants are protected from arbitrary rent increases, at least giving six months notice before that happens, with a guidance of a percentage by which it can be increased. We are talking between 20 to 30 per cent,” he stated.
The ADC candidate further proposed establishing a feedback and complaint mechanism through which tenants could report landlords who violate the proposed regulations.
He assured residents that his administration would investigate such complaints and take appropriate action against landlords found guilty of violating the law.
The housing proposals featured prominently in the debate, which provided candidates with an opportunity to present their programmes and respond to questions on issues affecting residents of Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Lagos continues to face significant housing challenges, including high rents, rapid population growth, inadequate affordable accommodation and increasing pressure on existing infrastructure.
Rhodes-Vivour’s proposals are therefore likely to attract attention from tenants, young professionals and low-income households seeking more accessible housing options.
However, delivering more than 100,000 affordable housing units would require substantial investment, access to land, infrastructure development, effective partnerships and a transparent allocation framework.
The proposed rent regulation would also require clear enforcement mechanisms to protect tenants while ensuring that landlords operate within a fair and sustainable legal framework.
As the 2027 governorship election approaches, housing affordability and tenants’ rights are expected to remain important issues in the political contest for Lagos State.
