Sanwo-Olu Woos Multinationals, Developers at 6th Lagos Housing Marketplace

“Your assets are safe in Lagos,” governor assures investors

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured local and international investors of the safety, stability, and transparency of Lagos as he intensified efforts to attract multinational corporations and real estate developers at the Sixth Lagos Real Estate Marketplace Conference.

The conference, which drew over 2,000 in-person participants—including investors from America, the Middle East, and Asia—was held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island. It was organised by the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) under the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, with the theme: “Shaping the Future of Lagos Megacity: Infrastructure, Innovation and Affordable Housing.”

Speaking at the event, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos had evolved into one of the world’s most dynamic urban economies, stressing that the State’s focus was now on sustaining inclusive growth and ensuring the city remains liveable for generations to come.

According to him, Lagos has moved beyond being a city of potential to one of performance, driven by accelerated economic and infrastructural development. However, he acknowledged that the scale and pace of growth had also created challenges that must be deliberately addressed.

The governor identified the provision of dignified and affordable housing for the State’s growing population as a major concern, noting that bridging the gap would require deeper private sector participation guided by public purpose.

“How do we build a megacity that works not just for the few, but for the many?” Sanwo-Olu asked. “Housing in the 21st century is not just about buildings; it is about human dignity, economic productivity, social stability, and the kind of city we choose to become.

“In Lagos, we understand that one can not build a 21st-century megacity on 20th-century planning assumptions. That is why housing sits firmly at the heart of our development agenda. It is interwoven with transportation, infrastructure, energy, climate resilience, and economic opportunity.”

He explained that the State Government was investing heavily in enabling infrastructure—including roads, rail, power, water, and drainage—because housing development can not thrive in isolation.

“Developments must connect to jobs, markets, and mobility. That is why our transport investments, from rail to road corridors, are intentionally aligned with housing growth zones,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu added that housing affordability in Lagos meant building homes that people could live in, pay for, and easily access—close to their workplaces and suitable for raising families. He said the State was leveraging public-private partnerships, structured finance, land optimisation, and demand-led planning while positioning government as an enabler, regulator, and partner rather than the sole provider of housing.

Wooing investors, the governor assured them of transparency, good governance, and improved security.

“To our local developers, Lagos believes in you. To our international partners, Lagos is open, ready, and serious,” he said. “This state remains one of the safest, most stable, and best-governed investment destinations in Africa. We govern with integrity.

“We have continued to strengthen our security architecture through technology, improved intelligence, enhanced manpower, and coordinated multi-agency collaboration. Safety, stability, and the rule of law remain non-negotiable pillars of our investment environment.”

Sanwo-Olu commended LASRERA for sustaining the conference, describing it as a marketplace where ideas meet policy, capital meets opportunity, and vision meets implementation.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barrister Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, said the Lagos Real Estate Marketplace had become an intellectual theatre for industry practitioners, noting that previous editions had led to regulatory interventions and policy shifts.

She disclosed that the new Tenancy Bill currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly was one of the outcomes of the conference, explaining that it seeks to balance the rights of landlords and tenants, streamline professional practice, and provide clearer guidelines for real estate transactions.

Delivering the keynote address, former Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN, outlined measures to accelerate housing development. He stressed that government vision must outlive individual policies and administrations, urging strict adherence to the State’s unified master plan.

Banire also called for the protection of highway setbacks and stronger environmental protection laws to ensure Lagos remains a habitable and sustainable megacity.