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| Photo credit — Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour |
Lagos State faces persistent challenges with housing shortages, traffic congestion, youth underemployment, and urban security. At a town hall meeting organised by The Platform (a thought-leadership initiative of The Covenant Nation) on Thursday, African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour presented key elements of his proposed agenda for the 2027 election.
Rhodes-Vivour, who previously contested the 2023 Lagos governorship election under the Labour Party, pledged that an administration under his leadership would prioritise large-scale housing delivery and improved mobility.
Housing Targets and Skills Linkage
He stated that his government would aim to deliver 100,000 housing units within the first four-year term. The plan, according to the candidate, would go beyond construction numbers by linking housing delivery to skills training and local job creation.
Rhodes-Vivour said opportunities would be localised at the ward and local government levels. Residents could receive free training in practical skills such as tiling, bricklaying, and POP (plaster of Paris) installation. Trained artisans would then be engaged in the proposed housing programme and paid above the minimum wage.
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“Our plans for you are increasing your capacity, localising that at the ward level so that you can get jobs and skills,” he said. He emphasised that the approach would move beyond training alone by creating pathways for people to apply the skills they acquire.
The candidate also addressed street-level insecurity and harassment. He promised help desks across the state where residents could report alleged police intimidation. Separately, he said efforts would focus on providing alternative productive pathways for people currently involved in street-level disruptions: “We are going to take the thugs off the streets by giving them a different pathway to be productive members of society.”
Transportation Vision
On mobility, Rhodes-Vivour pledged to develop “a truly multimodal and affordable means of transportation all over Lagos State.” He indicated that the government would partner with the private sector to improve infrastructure and make the state “better connected.” Specific timelines mentioned in related remarks included ambitions around completing rail lines, though detailed project lists and funding mechanisms were not fully elaborated in the available statements.
Context and Considerations
Lagos remains one of Africa’s largest and fastest-growing cities, with longstanding pressure on housing stock and public transport. Previous administrations have launched various housing and rail initiatives with mixed results on scale, affordability, and completion rates. Delivering 100,000 units in four years would represent a significant acceleration and would depend on land availability, financing models (including private-sector participation), regulatory processes, and execution capacity.
Campaign pledges of this nature outline intended priorities. Actual outcomes would hinge on electoral results, budget allocations, partnerships, and implementation details that are typically developed further if a candidate assumes office.
This report is based on public statements made at the town hall. Readers are encouraged to consult primary sources and official campaign materials for the fullest picture as the 2027 election cycle progresses.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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