Author: Christiana Alabi-Akande

When Lagos introduced mass housing under former Governor Lateef Jakande in the ’80s, civil servants, factory workers and low-income earners could buy homes through instalment payments that stretched over 30 years. Four decades later, findings by DevReporting show that many of Lagos’ ‘low-cost’ homes now cost between ₦5 million and ₦25 million, with repayment conditions that exclude 70 per cent of the city’s working population, who earn below ₦100,000. Only 7 per cent (1,400,000) of Lagos residents earn above ₦200,000. An analysis of government procurement records from 2020-2025, housing prices, mortgage requirements, labour income data and interviews with allocatees, reveal…

Following this year’s Nurses’ Week, observed globally from 6 to 12 May, DevReporting celebrates Principal Nursing Officer Olusolape Olanrewaju of the State Hospital, Abeokuta, Ogun State, for redefining maternal healthcare through an uncommon blend of compassion, music, humour and health education. In this interview with CHRISTIANA ALABI-AKANDE, she speaks about her childhood, passion for nursing, life in the labour room, surviving occupational risks, and how empathy-driven healthcare can help improve maternal and child health outcomes. https://youtu.be/UDzpzSOOJnQ?si=7zGyhLzpm6yCePM9 DR: Beyond the personality many people know on social media, who is Nurse Olusolape? Olusolape: I was born over 40 years ago in a…

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Thursday said Nigeria’s ambition to unlock the vast potential of its maritime sector will depend largely on investments in human capital, declaring that the future of the blue economy “will be built in classrooms, laboratories and research centres”. Mr Oyetola spoke at the commissioning of the Institute of Maritime Studies multi-purpose building donated to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Describing the project as a “defining milestone”, the minister said the facility underscores the federal government’s shift towards knowledge-driven development in the marine…

Nigeria has launched the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) UniPod at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), marking the start of a national rollout of innovation hubs aimed at strengthening research, entrepreneurship, and technology development in tertiary institutions. The initiative, a collaboration between the Federal Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNILAG, is the first of seven hubs to be established across Nigeria under the UNDP’s Timbuktoo project, which seeks to catalyse innovation across Africa and translate it into tangible, homegrown solutions capable of driving sustainable development, economic growth, and job creation. Shift to innovation-led development Speaking at the launch,…

From Ibadan to remote communities, parents are routinely asked to pay for examination materials, development levies, security fees and even basic classroom supplies. Individually, the charges seem small; together, they are pushing some children out of school. Across Oyo State, school-age children are often seen hawking goods, running errands or engaged in other economic activities during class hours. For many families, the problem is not a lack of interest in education, but the growing burden of unofficial costs attached to a system meant to be free. The contradiction is striking. In June 2025, the Oyo State Executive Council approved ₦63.48…

The Oyo State chapter of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), in collaboration with Educare Trust, has expressed concern over the delay in the enrolment of out-of-school children (OOSC) in the state, following a nationwide mop-up exercise conducted by the National Commission on Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE). Addressing newsmen in Ibadan, the Programme Director of Educare Trust and Coordinator of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) caretaker committee, Folorunsho Moshood, explained that the NCAOOSCE carried out a mop-up exercise nationwide, including Oyo State, between 22 June and 17 July 2025.…

Olalekan Fabilola is the creator and host of ‘Masoyinbo’, a popular Yoruba cultural game show that blends language, history and entertainment. Through the programme, he has carved a distinct space for indigenous knowledge in Nigeria’s contemporary media landscape, reaching audiences across generations. In this interview with DevReporting, Mr Fabilola speaks on the idea behind Masoyinbo, the power of indigenous language, and why culture remains a critical tool for development. Excerpt DR: Anywhere you appear today, many people recognise you by the programme you currently host, ‘Masoyinbo’. So, who is Masoyinbo? Masoyinbo: I am having mixed feelings about whether to speak…

In March 2023, while playing with his wife, Julius Oluwatomi, a resident of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, noticed that her left breast felt unusually hard “like stone”, including the nipple. What began as a moment of playful banter between him and his wife, whom he fondly calls “Layomi” quickly turned into fear. The discovery marked the start of a long and emotionally draining journey that tested their faith, finances and resilience. By 5.30 a.m. the following day, the couple were already at Ayinke House, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital to seek medical help. After an initial examination, they were referred…

Hundreds of residents and civil society activists under the banner of the Coalition Against Demolition, Eviction, Land Grabbers and Displacement in Lagos State, marched on Wednesday from the Ikeja under-bridge to the Lagos State House of Assembly, protesting ongoing demolitions across the waterfront and low-income communities in the state. The coalition, comprising affected communities and civil society organisations, includes residents of Makoko, Oworonshoki, Bariga, Owode Onirin, and other areas impacted by recent demolition exercises. However, the protest, scheduled to commence at 7 a.m., did not begin until after 9 a.m. as participants gradually assembled at the Ikeja under-bridge. Ahead of…

As rapidly growing African cities adopt safer ways to manage informal settlements without displacement, demolitions in the waterfront communities of Makoko and Oworonshoki, Lagos, have left thousands homeless. The demolitions, carried out by the Lagos State Government, are reportedly targeted at structures built close to high-tension power lines, power stations and restricted waterfront corridors, triggering public outrage and humanitarian concerns. While the government insists that its actions are necessary to prevent disasters, affected residents say the operations have deepened their vulnerability, leaving them without shelter, compensation, resettlement or clear relocation plans. This has reignited debate over whether safety in fast-growing…