Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has triggered a heated online debate after advising young workers not to feel pressured into renting expensive apartments immediately, suggesting they consider living with parents, relatives, or in shared accommodation while building their finances. The advice came during a question-and-answer session with Nigeria Info FM on Thursday, August 20, as house rents in Lagos continue to soar.
Rent Crisis and a 22-Year-Old's Dilemma
During the session, the deputy governor was asked how a 22-year-old earning N100,000 monthly could afford a self-contained apartment or mini-flat costing about N1 million annually, given the alarming increase in house rents across Lagos. Hamzat responded by saying young people should choose accommodation that reflects their income rather than trying to start from the top.
“Don’t let us misunderstand ourselves as a people. We are cultural people. Do you understand? So, if I start work as a young person and I’m not married, a lot of us live with our parents. A lot of us live with our cousins. You know, go to Turkey, for example, and see how young people also live,” Hamzat said.
Start from the Average, Not the Top
The deputy governor emphasized that young workers should not feel compelled to immediately move into self-contained apartments if their incomes could not support such accommodation. “So, if you don’t start from the top self-contained, you don’t start from the top. You start from the average depending on,” he stated.
Hamzat also advised residents not to spend more than 40 per cent of their income on rent, noting that workers have other essential expenses to cover. “In fact, if you spend more than 40 per cent of your income on rent, it is too high because you must eat, you must buy clothes, you must do transportation,” he explained.
Public Reaction and Practical Implications
The comments have sparked mixed reactions online, with some supporting the deputy governor's pragmatic approach and others arguing that the advice overlooks the realities of Lagos's housing market. The debate highlights the growing financial pressure on young professionals in Nigeria's commercial capital, where rents have risen sharply in recent years.
For a 22-year-old earning N100,000 monthly, the N1 million annual rent for a self-contained apartment would consume over 80 per cent of their income, far exceeding the 40 per cent threshold Hamzat recommended. The deputy governor's advice underscores the need for young workers to adopt a gradual approach to housing, focusing on building financial stability before making major accommodation commitments.
