Sunday, May 25, 2025 - The Lagos State Government has denied a viral statement circulating on social media that claimed a new amendment to the state’s tenancy law had been enacted.
The alleged update, which began making rounds on X on
Friday, May 23, purportedly introduced a cap limiting advance rent payments to
three months for existing tenants, along with new restrictions on rent
increases and tenancy terminations. It also listed penalties, including fines
of up to N100,000 or three months’ imprisonment.
However, Barakat Bakare, Special Adviser to the Lagos State
Governor on Housing, dismissed the claims on Saturday, May 24. In an official
statement, Bakare clarified that the purported amendment did not originate from
the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) and that the current
tenancy law enacted in 2015 remains in force.
Bakare acknowledged that a new tenancy bill is under review
at the Lagos State House of Assembly but emphasised that it has not yet been
passed into law. She added that the Ministry of Housing is actively engaging
stakeholders in discussions about real estate transaction practices and payment
structures, including the potential for monthly rent payments.
“The culture of monthly payment and a clear understanding of
the process of real estate transactions at all levels are being discussed at
these engagements,” the statement read. Bakare assured the public that any
changes to the law would be officially communicated once enacted.
The false report emerged amid an intensifying housing crisis
in Lagos, marked by rising rents, exploitative landlord practices, forced
evictions, and a significant housing deficit, further exacerbated by rapid
urbanisation and population growth. In response to the worsening situation, the
Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the government to adopt measures aimed
at controlling excessive rent increases.
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