Ten Things on the Record is the essential guide for people who live, work or do business in Lagos. Sign up for free here.

Quick look

• State lawmakers seek solution to rent crisis
• Date for local council elections set
• LAMATA raise awareness on BRT lane
• Redefining technical education in Lagos
• Things to do and verified jobs

Key developments

Assembly moves to curb rent hikes, protect tenants

URGENT MATTER: The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to to fully enforce the Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2015, Vanguard newspaper reported. Lawmakers said arbitrary rent increases are worsening the housing crisis and must be urgently addressed.

RENTERS SQUEEZED: During plenary on Tuesday, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh cited Section 37 of the law, which prohibits unreasonable rent hikes. Hon. Desmond Elliot said rents in his Surulere constituency had surged by up to 200 percent, while Hon. Aro Moshood condemned landlords who raise rent without notice or evict tenants illegally. “Many people earning the minimum wage can no longer afford a room in Lagos,” Moshood said.

CALL TO ACTION: The House urged the Commissioner for Information to launch a public awareness campaign on tenants’ rights and asked the acting House clerk to forward the resolution to the Governor. Speaker Mudashiru Obasa called for talks with real estate stakeholders, noting that rising costs of building materials are part of the problem.

TAKING ACTION: Meanwhile, the state government has urged estate agents to crack down on quacks who promote arbitrary rent hikes and illegal charges. Housing commissioner Moruf Akinderu-Fatai said Lagos is working with stakeholders to implement a fairer rent system, including monthly, quarterly, or yearly payments capped at one year, Punch newspaper reported.

Around Lagos and beyond

COUNCIL POLLS: The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission announced that local government elections will hold on July 12, covering 57 chairmanship and 376 councillor seats, with a possible re-run slated for July 19, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

SPEAKERSHIP TUSSLE: A Lagos High Court has declared the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker illegal and void, saying the House’s January proceedings were unconstitutional and taken while he was out of the country, Punch newspaper reported.

HUNTING TERRORISTS: The Civilian Joint Task Force said it has arrested hundreds of suspected Boko Haram members in Lagos, according to Punch newspaper. Commander Kumar Sanda said the suspects are usually picked up at trailer parks, markets, and other common entry points into the state. Responding to the comments, the Lagos police command said no Boko Haram members have been arrested in the state, the Cable newspaper reported.

INVESTMENT CHAOS: Angry investors stormed the Egbeda office of Crypto Bridge Exchange Smart-Treasures, or CBEX, in search of officials behind the collapsed trading platform, which reportedly held billions in investor funds, Vanguard newspaper reported. Police arrived later to restore order, while the EFCC assured that those who invested would be refunded. The Securities and Exchange Commission said it was looking into the issue.

HITTING THE AIRWAVES: Media entrepreneur Kayode Adegbite launched a new radio station, KONFAM 89.5 FM, Vanguard newspaper reported. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the station’s addition to the motley of broadcasting channels in Lagos would help to “further strengthen our democracy, the rule of law as well as people’s participation in governance.”

KEEP OFF: Transport authority, LAMATA, urged motorists plying the Mile 12 section of the Ikorodu-TBS corridor to avoid driving on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes. “In a video message, LAMATA technical officer, Engr. Adeniji Adeyemi emphasised the need for drivers to obey road signs to ensure smoother traffic and prevent delays for commuters. A citizen journalist has been exposing how traffic officials extort unsuspecting road users.

Big story

How ETL Engineering School is redefining technical education in Lagos

This week, we report on an engineering school in Ikeja helping to transform technical education in the state.

After struggling to secure a job despite holding a civil engineering degree, *Mr. Adebowale A. enrolled in a three-month Electrical & Industrial Automation course at ETL Engineering School. Shortly after completing the program, he landed a job as an Electrical Technician at a leading manufacturing company.

Like Mr. Adebowale, another trainee who held only an SSCE qualification took ETL’s Industrial Electro-Mechanical Engineering course. Despite not having a university degree, he received intensive hands-on training and mentorship. Today, he has built a career as an artisan and earns a stable income. 

In Nigeria, thousands of engineering graduates enter the workforce each year, but many struggle to find employment, in part due to a lack of practical experience. Most universities and polytechnics focus on theory, leaving graduates unprepared for the technical demands of real-world jobs.

From its headquarters in Ikeja, ETL Engineering Services Limited is changing that. With a curriculum centered on immersive, hands-on learning, ETL is helping to bridge the divide between academic knowledge and industry readiness. From oil and gas to manufacturing, the institution is equipping professionals with the skills employers actually need.

Bridging the technical skills gap

ETL Engineering School was founded to solve a major challenge in Nigeria’s technical education system: the lack of industry-aligned, practical training.

Many higher institutions lack modern equipment and up-to-date curricula. 

ETL responded by investing in state-of-the-art facilities and developing courses tailored to industry needs.

“Our mission is to deliver high-quality, industry-specific technical training that bridges the skills gap in Nigeria,” Managing Director of ETL Services, Mr. Chris Udemba, said in an interview with Ikeja Record. “We want to empower individuals with hands-on expertise so they can thrive in their careers.”

At ETL, training is structured to be 70% practical and 30% theoretical. This emphasis on real-world application sets it apart from other technical institutions. The school also provides post-training support such as internships and job placement assistance to help graduates succeed.

The full story is published on our website.

Top recommendations

SILENT THIRST: Premium Times spoke to an environment expert on why water shortages in Lagos is a looming public health crisis.

TOUT ECONOMICS: A YouTuber explored how Agberos control the street economy in Lagos.

FOREIGN EYES: YouTuber Ludo Liu documented his “no filter” tour of parts of the city.

What to do this weekend

• Experience Lagos nightlife on Saturday with a silent rave at The Long Bar. Kicks off at 7PM, 23A Tony Anegbode Street, Victoria Island (Entry: N7,000).
• Silent Rave at Nest Lagos is hosting a one-night-only Easter experience. Starts on Saturday at 7PM, 12 Sir Samuel Manuwa Street, Victoria Island (Entry: N10,500).
• Watch The Diary of a Single Woman in Lagos as it hits the stage this weekend at Terra Kulture.

Pick of the jobs

• BBC, Journalist, Focus on Africa (Lagos). Salary: Unknown. Experience: Mid-level.
• PZ Cussons, Zonal Sales Manager – Lagos Central. Salary: Unknown. Experience: Senior.
• Standard Bank, Analyst, Network Security. Salary: Unknown. Experience: Mid-level.

718

The number of trees LASPARK, the state’s park and garden agency, said it planted at the Lagos State University campus in Epe.

Photo of the week

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the inaugural Lagos State Energy Summit on Tuesday. 

Coming up

• April 20: Lagos Fanti Carnival, Tafawa Balewa Square
• April 25: Chimamanda Adichie’s book reading, Landmark Centre, Victoria Island.

What’s new on Ikeja Record?

• We produced a video version of our #CleanUpLagos campaign intro.
• The latest installment of our #CleanUpLagos campaign featured the Olusosun landfill in Ojota.
• Our in-house food connoisseur, Imanuela, tried out SixFifteen bar in Mende.