The Lagos State Government has warned contractors handling its ongoing housing projects to speed up construction or risk having their contracts terminated, as it moves to deliver about 2,000 housing units before the end of the year.
The warning was issued by the Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, during an inspection tour of major housing projects at Abraham Adesanya Extension, a Joint Venture development, and the Sangotedo Housing Scheme Phase 2.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Hafis Toriola, as well as directors, engineers and other technical officials, expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work at some of the project sites.
He said the state government would no longer tolerate unnecessary delays, especially on projects for which contractors had already received adequate funding.
According to him, the administration remains committed to delivering at least 2,000 housing units across different housing schemes before the end of 2026 and is determined to ensure that contractors meet agreed timelines.
Speaking during the inspection, Akinderu-Fatai said some contractors had failed to make satisfactory progress despite the government’s support, warning that such companies could be removed from the project sites if they continued to delay construction.
“We are not happy about the scope of work here and we also noticed some technical issues that we are going to resolve with the contractors,” the commissioner said.
“If the government has given them enough money to finish up these projects and they are slow, we will quickly take them off the site.”
He explained that the inspection was aimed at assessing the level of work completed, identifying obstacles affecting the projects and finding practical solutions that would ensure faster delivery.
The commissioner noted that the housing developments under construction are part of a broader plan by the Lagos State Government to reduce the housing shortage and provide affordable homes for residents.
Among the projects inspected is the 526-unit Sangotedo Housing Scheme, which is being developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. The scheme is one of several housing projects expected to increase the supply of decent and affordable homes in the state.
Despite acknowledging the scale of the projects and the challenges involved in delivering large housing estates, Akinderu-Fatai said the government was becoming increasingly worried about repeated delays.
According to him, some of the projects should have been completed about two years ago, but several factors slowed construction.
He attributed part of the delays to the country’s economic challenges, particularly the sharp increase in the prices of cement, steel, roofing materials and other construction items.
The commissioner explained that the rising cost of building materials forced some developers to suspend work temporarily while discussions were held with the ministry to review project costs and implementation plans.
However, he stressed that those challenges had already been addressed and should no longer serve as reasons for failing to complete the projects.
“We have gone past that; the level we are at now is delivery,” he said.
Akinderu-Fatai disclosed that the Ministry of Housing would immediately engage contractors handling the various projects to resolve any outstanding technical or administrative issues delaying completion.
He said the meetings would focus on reviewing work schedules, identifying remaining obstacles and ensuring that contractors return to full construction activities without further delay.
According to him, the government expects visible progress at all project sites in the coming weeks and will closely monitor the performance of every contractor.
He warned that any company that fails to meet its contractual obligations could lose the project to another contractor capable of completing the work within the agreed timeframe.
The Lagos State Government has, in recent years, invested heavily in public housing as part of efforts to address the growing housing deficit in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
With a rapidly increasing population estimated at over 20 million people, Lagos faces one of the largest housing shortages in Africa. Demand for affordable homes continues to rise as more people migrate to the state in search of jobs and business opportunities.
To bridge the housing gap, successive state governments have introduced several housing schemes through direct government funding, joint venture arrangements and Public-Private Partnerships aimed at attracting private sector investment.
Many of the projects are designed to provide decent accommodation for middle-income and low-income residents while also supporting urban renewal and reducing the growth of informal settlements.
However, delays in project execution have remained a major challenge. Contractors have frequently blamed rising inflation, fluctuations in the exchange rate, increased construction costs and disruptions in the supply of building materials for slowing work on several projects across the state.
The economic reforms introduced in recent years, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, have significantly increased the cost of construction nationwide. Developers have struggled with higher prices for imported materials, transportation and labour, forcing some projects to be suspended or renegotiated.
Despite these difficulties, the Lagos State Government has repeatedly maintained that it remains committed to expanding access to affordable housing and completing ongoing projects.
The latest warning by the commissioner signals a tougher approach by the state government towards contractors that fail to meet agreed deadlines.
Officials believe that faster completion of the housing projects will not only provide homes for thousands of families but also create jobs, stimulate economic activities and support the state’s broader urban development agenda.