Four candidates contesting the 2027 Lagos State governorship election have outlined different strategies for addressing flooding, traffic congestion, housing shortages and challenges in the education sector.
The candidates, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Obafemi Hamzat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Deji Doherty of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presented their positions on Sunday during a governorship debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium in Lagos.
The debate featured differing views on the state’s development priorities, with opposition candidates questioning the performance of the APC-led government, while Hamzat defended its policies and presented plans to expand infrastructure and social services.
Flooding: Technology, drainage and environmental management
Speaking on flooding, Rhodes-Vivour blamed what he described as decades of poor governance for some of the challenges facing Lagos residents. He promised to adopt technology-driven environmental management strategies if elected governor.
The ADC candidate said his administration would prioritise residents’ safety and create a cleaner environment through policies aimed at tackling flooding and improving living conditions.
“All of us are experiencing the damage that has come from bad governance that has been endemic in this state for the last 20 years,” he said.
“We want a cleaner Lagos. We want a safer Lagos. We want a safer Lagos. We want a more affordable Lagos, and we want a Lagos that works for everybody, not just the privileged few.”
Hamzat, however, defended the state’s existing drainage infrastructure, describing its network as “fantastic”.
The APC candidate said the priority should be to keep drainage channels free of obstructions to allow water to flow into the creeks.
Traffic: APC’s multi-modal transportation plan
On traffic and transportation, Hamzat outlined plans to improve mobility through rail, road and water transport systems.
He said the state was targeting the daily movement of one million passengers through 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.
The deputy governor also disclosed plans to expand water transportation with 77 electric ferries, arguing that the vessels would help move more commuters across Lagos waterways.
Defending the government’s investment in rail transportation, Hamzat said there was nowhere in Africa where the private sector had funded a rail system.
Rhodes-Vivour, however, maintained that traffic congestion should not become a normal part of residents’ lives.
He called for improvements in water transportation and the provision of additional infrastructure to ease movement across the state.
Housing: 100,000 units, mortgages and rent regulation
Housing was another major point of disagreement, with Rhodes-Vivour promising to provide more than 100,000 housing units if elected.
The ADC candidate said the proposed homes would be accessible to residents, accusing successive APC administrations of prioritising the interests of the elite over the needs of people in rural communities.
He also criticised the state’s emphasis on internally generated revenue (IGR), arguing that residents were not enjoying the benefits of the money collected.
“Lagos celebrates high IGR, yet people are not experiencing it,” he said, adding that his administration would introduce policies to support residents struggling with the rising cost of living.
Hamzat said the state had developed 24 housing estates in the last eight years but acknowledged the need to improve access to quality accommodation.
He promised to expand mortgage facilities for residents and complete ongoing housing projects across different parts of Lagos.
The APC candidate also pledged to enforce the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency Law, which requires landlords to collect no more than one year’s rent rather than demand payments covering multiple years.
He said the government would ensure compliance with the law to tackle arbitrary rent demands and improve access to affordable accommodation.
Education: NDC’s Doherty promises ‘truly free’ schooling
On education, Funso Doherty outlined a commitment to make schooling completely free in Lagos if elected governor in 2027.
The NDC candidate said his administration would prioritise providing residents with education and relevant skills to improve their livelihoods.
He argued that no child should be denied access to education because their parents could not afford the associated costs, stressing that free education should extend beyond the removal of tuition fees.
“So, our policies are aimed at capacitating the people, giving them skills, ensuring that there is no child born in Lagos who does not get an education because their parents cannot afford it.
“We have said we will make education truly free, not nominally free. Truly free, so people will not pay exam fees; they will not be asked to come and pay taxes at a point when they have to write their exams,” Doherty said.