A new report has revealed that Lagos State has successfully delivered about 2.5 million housing units in recent years. While this is a major achievement for Nigeria’s most populous state, it still falls short of closing the huge housing gap — which now stands at an estimated 3.4 million units.

Experts say the figures highlight just how challenging it is for Lagos to keep up with its booming population. As thousands of people continue to migrate to the city daily in search of jobs and better opportunities, the demand for affordable housing keeps rising.

According to the report, the state government has ramped up efforts through various housing schemes and partnerships with private developers. These have produced estates and apartments aimed at easing the shelter crisis.

However, with Lagos home to over 20 million people, the current supply is still not enough to meet the growing need. Analysts warn that without accelerated housing delivery, many residents will continue to rely on overcrowded informal settlements, which often lack basic infrastructure.

Stakeholders are urging the government to do more by cutting bureaucratic bottlenecks for developers, investing in mass housing projects, and encouraging mortgage schemes that make homeownership easier for ordinary citizens.

For now, while Lagos can celebrate putting roofs over millions of heads, bridging the remaining 3.4 million-unit deficit remains a tall order — and one of the biggest challenges on its road to becoming a truly modern mega city.