The Governorship Candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Lagos State , Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, says he will deliver no fewer than 10,000 affordable housing units annually to reduce deficit in the state if elected .
Gbadamosi. a real estate expert, made the promise on Wednesday in Lagos at a debate, organised by an NGO, Yali Network Africa, for governorship candidates in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 governorship candidates, including Mr Funsho Awe of the National Conscience Party (NCP), ) Dr Adetokunbo Pearse of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mrs Adebisi Ogunsanya of Young Progressives Party (YPP), and Prof. Ifagbemi Awamaridi of the Labour Party (LP) participated in the debate.
Mr Biodun Dabiri (Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Mr Ladipo Johnson Alliance National Party (ANP) also participated in the debate.
Gbadamosi said the accommodation crisis in the state was not befitting of a place like Lagos, promising to deploy the right technology to construct 40,000 housing units over four years to tackle the problem.
The governorship candidate said he would replicate the strides of former Governor Lateef Jakande in affordable housing to ensure improved access to housing.
“We have a clear manifesto on housing. The plan is to deliver a modest figure than what the current governor of the state promised.
“We are promising 10,000 affordable housing units year in, year on for the next four years to improve access.
“This, we think is a possibility, if you consider the fact that former governor Lateef Jakande was able to provide 20,000 affordable housing units in just four years and three months.
“Construction technology has moved in leaps and bounds since then and all forms of innovations are coming to the industry that has made it possible for us to conservatively say we will build 10,000 housing units every year,
“We will be committed to the promise because we believe Lagosians deserve decent living. We will deliver 40,000 housing units to residents. That is our promise,” he said.
Gbadamosi said he would invest massively in human capital development, particularly the civil service to drive the development of the state.
On his planned policy for waste management, Gbadamosi said he would implement a robust waste management policy to ensure a cleaner state.
He said it was the constitutional responsibility of the local governments to handle waste management and that he would equip the councils to perform the job.
Also, Awe blamed the persisistent gridlock in the state to poor transport system.
The NCP candidate said he would implement an intermodal transport system in the state to ensure easy movements for residents.
Awe described poverty as a major problem in the state and would empower the grassroots to grow the economy if elected.
Pearse said that he would bring integrity to bear on governance if elected.
He said he would invest massively in infrastructure to catalyse economic development of the state and empower the youth and women to reduce unemployment.
The SDP candidate said he would bring innovation and transparency in governance for the interest of the state`s development.
Ogunsanya said the development of the agricultural sector was critical to the development of any society.
She said if elected, she would give the needed support to farmers and implement the necessary policy to make the sector a major contributor to the economy.
The candidate urged residents to trust her with their votes, promising to improve governance to make lives better for all residents if elected
