The advice by Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, to young workers struggling with high rents to consider living with their parents or relatives has generated controversy in the state, with some residents describing the suggestion as unrealistic and insensitive, while others believe it is a practical way of coping with the rising cost of living.
The debate followed Hamzat’s remarks during a question-and-answer session on Nigeria Info FM on Thursday, August 20, 2026, while responding to a question about how a 22-year-old earning N100,000 monthly could afford a self-contained apartment reportedly costing about N1 million annually.
Hamzat advised young workers not to feel pressured to rent expensive apartments immediately after securing employment, urging them to consider living with parents or relatives or sharing accommodation until their financial situation improves.
“Don’t let us misunderstand ourselves as a 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,” Hamzat said.
He further argued that young workers should choose accommodation based on their income rather than trying to begin their independent lives in expensive apartments.
“You know, go to Turkey, for example, and see how young people also live,” he said.
Hamzat also warned workers against spending an excessive portion of their earnings on accommodation.
“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 said.
The Deputy Governor also advocated mortgage financing as part of the long-term solution to Nigeria’s housing challenges, arguing that people should be able to spread the cost of purchasing homes rather than paying the entire amount at once.
But the comments have since triggered a wider debate over whether young Lagos residents can realistically achieve financial independence when rents continue to rise faster than many salaries.
For many young workers, the most controversial aspect of Hamzat’s advice is the suggestion that those struggling with rent should return to their parents.
Credit: dailypost.ng
