Lagos State’s housing initiatives contributed significantly to job creation in 2024, generating a total of 5,287 direct and indirect employment opportunities, according to the Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai.
The commissioner made this known on Tuesday during a ministerial briefing to mark the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term. He noted that the state’s investments in housing have continued to yield both infrastructural and economic dividends.
“In the last six years, activities within the housing sector created around 13,749 jobs across Lagos,” Akinderu-Fatai stated. “These roles cut across skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled categories, with 2024 alone accounting for 5,287 new employment opportunities.”
He also revealed that as of December 2024, the state’s housing projects had positively impacted 28,507 households, demonstrating the broad reach of government-led development efforts.
To ensure consistent quality across construction sites, the Ministry has prioritized the upskilling of artisans in the building sector. Over 500 individuals benefited from the “Master Craftsman Training Programme,” a six-week technical capacity-building initiative conducted in partnership with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Board and endorsed by the Nigerian Institute of Building.
Courses offered included masonry, plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, and painting. Participants received not only training but also certification, starter kits, and work gear. The Ministry also worked with contractors and partners to ensure these trained professionals are integrated into ongoing and future projects.
On enforcement and recovery efforts, Akinderu-Fatai disclosed that the ministry had facilitated the recovery of N295.47 million and reclaimed 20 properties through its dispute resolution mechanism.
He explained that the state’s real estate regulatory agency has handled a total of 1,899 property-related disputes to date. Of these, 1,580 cases were subjected to mediation, with 1,243 resolved amicably. A further 23 are pending additional sessions, while 147 were abandoned due to non-attendance by the parties involved. Another 172 cases were redirected to relevant agencies, and eight matters are currently in various courts—including Federal, State, and Magistrate levels.
The commissioner emphasized the importance of the agency’s use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to address real estate conflicts efficiently before escalating issues to law enforcement for further action.
