2027: Hamzat Promises 25-Year Mortgages, One-Year Rent, 4,000 Buses

Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has promised to introduce a 25-year mortgage scheme, enforce the one-year rent limit and increase the state’s public bus fleet from 1,000 to 4,000 if elected governor in 2027.

Hamzat made the promises on Sunday during the Lagos Governorship Debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium at The Hub by IALA, Lekki, Lagos.

The debate featured three other governorship candidates, including Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the African Democratic Congress, ADC; Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC; and Deji Doherty of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Describing the debate as an opportunity to demonstrate his preparedness for leadership, Hamzat said he considered the event a job interview.

“I take tonight as a job interview. The first question you ask anybody that wants this type of responsibility is: what have you done to prepare for this job?” he said.

The APC candidate cited his previous experience as Commissioner for Science and Technology and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, highlighting his involvement in the development of Lagos State’s residents and structural database and the delivery of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

On housing, Hamzat promised to introduce a mortgage arrangement requiring prospective homeowners to pay an initial 10 per cent deposit, with the balance spread over 25 years.

He said the proposal was designed to make homeownership more accessible to residents who could not afford to pay for houses outright.

He also pledged to enforce the existing one-year rent limit, insisting that tenants should not be compelled to pay two or three years’ rent in advance.

“So people should not be asked two years, three years ahead because nobody gets salary three years ahead,” he said.

On transportation, Hamzat promised to expand the state’s public bus fleet from 1,000 to 4,000, deploying compressed natural gas-powered vehicles to improve mass transit.

He also pledged to extend the Blue Line rail to Okokomaiko and advance the Green Line towards the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

The APC candidate further promised to increase flagship primary healthcare centres from 87 to 150, with the facilities operating round the clock.

He acknowledged that residents continued to face challenges in transportation, housing and food affordability, saying government must deliberately intervene to ease the economic burden.

Hamzat said his proposed administration would pursue a 100-point development agenda, known as The Lagos Promise or Ileri Eko, covering seven pillars of development.