By: Mawutin Imoleayo Abraham Deji
Principal Partner, DeeBuildRight Projects.
Lagos is bursting at the seams. With over 20 million people and counting, the question confronting policymakers, developers, and families is the same: “Where will the next million Lagosians live?”
In a recent interview addressing flooding in Lagos, former Governor Babatunde Fashola suggested that rather than allow the Atlantic Ocean to encroach, it would be preferable to dredge the Lagos Lagoon to create more land for buildings.
With the utmost respect to the former Governor, this proposal, while well-intentioned, misses a fundamental engineering and environmental truth
THE LAGOON IS NOT VACANT LAND. IT IS LAGOS’ LIFELINE
The Lagos Lagoon is the natural drainage artery for mainland Lagos. It is through this body of water that storm runoff, rainfall, and drainage channels find their way to the Atlantic Ocean. To build indiscriminately on it, or to dredge it without a comprehensive ecological plan, is to trade immediate shelter for long-term disaster. It is to mortgage tomorrow’s safety for today’s apartments. As construction professionals, we know this principle: any foundation that wars with nature will eventually fail. No design, no matter how advanced, can out-engineer a blocked water path.
Therefore, Lagos does not need to build
into the water. Lagos needs to build outward with vision, with infrastructure, and with regional partnership.
THE OGUN STATE MODEL: THE EXTENSION OF PROSPERITY
This is the direction Ogun State, under the leadership of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON has chosen.
The Dapo Abiodun led administration has deliberately positioned Ogun as the contiguous solution to Lagos’ housing and population pressure. Through deliberate housing policy, massive road infrastructure, and the development of satellite towns, Ogun is absorbing demand without destroying critical ecosystems. Central to this agenda is the Ministry of Housing, led by the Honorable Commissioner, Jagun Akande Omoniyi widely known as The Accountant-Bricklayer for his unique grasp of both finance and field execution. Under his stewardship, the Ministry has delivered measurable strides:
(1) Scaled Housing Delivery:
The rollout of affordable housing estates in Arepo, Mowe, Ibafo, Kobape, and Kemta. These corridors are 30-45 minutes from central Lagos and are being developed with an infrastructure-first approach; roads, water, and power delivered before occupancy.
(2) De-risked Investment Through PPPs:
The government has opened the door for credible Public-Private Partnerships. This model attracts private capital, guarantees quality finishing, and accelerates delivery timelines.
(3) Inclusive Access: The housing model caters to low, middle, and high-income earners. The goal is simple: a teacher, a trader, and a technician should all have a path to homeownership within commuting distance of Lagos.
BEYOND BRICKS: EMPOWERING ARTISANS AND COMMUNITIES
What distinguishes this administration’s approach is its human impact. A house is not built by policy alone. It is built by hands. Recognizing this, the Ogun State Housing Agenda has become a platform for economic empowerment. Thousands of masons, carpenters, tilers, electricians, welders, and plumbers across the state are being: Trained and certified to meet modern construction standards, directly engaged on state and PPP housing projects, remunerated fairly and promptly, restoring dignity to skilled labor. This afford thousands of Ogun citizens to be confident in themselves doing legal jobs and meeting the needs of family members and loved ones. This proves a critical point: housing policy can also be poverty-eradication policy. When you build a home, you also build a man. That is leadership. That is legacy.
THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR: DEEBUILDRIGHT PROJECTS
At DeeBuildRight Projects: Building Legacies, Building Leaders, we are proud partners in this vision. Our mandate aligns with the state’s blueprint of quality construction, environmental responsibility, and community impact. We do not just erect structures. We help build communities that work, with proper drainage, solid foundations, and opportunities for local artisans.
The message to investors and families is clear. The smart capital is no longer looking to fight the lagoon. The smart capital is building across the border, with government backing, professional execution, and long-term value.
CONCLUSION
The future of Lagos housing cannot be solved within Lagos alone. It will be solved through regional collaboration, environmental wisdom, and intentional planning.
Ogun State, under Governor Dapo Abiodun and the hands-on execution of Commissioner Jagun Akande Omoniyi, is showing how it is done.
Let us build outward.
Let us build right.
Let us build people, as we build homes.
DeeBuildRight Projects is an Architectural and construction firm committed to building legacies and building leaders in Ogun State and beyond.
