Several young children, all believed to be under the age of 15, were discovered sleeping by the roadside along the Victoria Island expressway early Monday morning, highlighting the stark realities of homelessness in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The children were seen lying directly beside the busy expressway in Victoria Island, one of Lagos’ most affluent districts, known for its high-rise office towers, luxury apartments and multimillion-naira properties. Witnesses said the minors had no visible shelter, bedding or adult supervision as they slept within metres of fast-moving traffic.
The incident has sparked renewed debate about social inequality and housing shortages in Lagos, particularly as it comes against the backdrop of a newly approved ₦55.47 billion allocation in the state’s 2026 budget for the construction and development of residential quarters for lawmakers.
Under the approved budget, ₦35.47 billion has been earmarked for the construction of the residences, while an additional ₦20 billion has been set aside for site development, bringing the total to ₦55.47 billion. The amount represents approximately 1.25 per cent of the state’s ₦4.44 trillion budget for 2026.
The allocation has drawn scrutiny from housing advocates and civil society observers who point to Lagos’ severe housing deficit, estimated at more than three million units. With a population exceeding 20 million people and growing rapidly due to urban migration, demand for affordable housing in the state continues to far outstrip supply.
Government and industry data indicate that Lagos accounts for one of the largest shares of Nigeria’s estimated 28 million-unit national housing deficit. Rapid urbanisation, soaring land prices and rising rental costs have compounded the problem, leaving many low-income residents struggling to secure safe accommodation.
Comparisons with previous budget allocations have intensified public discussion. In 2025, Lagos reportedly allocated about ₦101.6 billion to housing and community amenities for the entire state population. By contrast, the ₦55.47 billion approved in the 2026 budget is dedicated specifically to housing for members of the state legislature.
Critics argue that the juxtaposition of substantial spending on official residences with visible homelessness in high-profile districts such as Victoria Island underscores deep structural inequalities. Supporters of the allocation, however, contend that government infrastructure projects, including official housing, are part of broader institutional development plans.
The sight of children sleeping in the open near one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors has intensified concerns about the vulnerability of minors living on the streets. Children without stable housing face heightened risks, including road accidents, exploitation, abuse, health challenges and limited access to education.
According to estimates from international development agencies and local social welfare organisations, tens of thousands of children in Lagos either live or work on the streets. Many are driven by economic hardship, family dislocation, unemployment and inadequate social safety nets. Some engage in petty trading or informal labour during the day and sleep in public spaces at night.
Victoria Island, widely regarded as the heart of corporate Lagos, hosts multinational headquarters, financial institutions and luxury hotels. Property values in the area rank among the highest in West Africa, with prime plots and high-end apartments often valued in the hundreds of millions of naira. Against this backdrop, the presence of homeless children sleeping along the expressway presents a jarring contrast.
Lagos remains Nigeria’s economic powerhouse and generates one of the highest levels of internally generated revenue on the continent. Yet visible homelessness persists across several parts of the metropolis, including under bridges, along major highways and in market districts.
Urban development experts say addressing the housing deficit will require sustained investment in affordable housing schemes, public-private partnerships and reforms to land administration systems. They also stress the need for stronger child protection policies and expanded social welfare interventions targeted at vulnerable families.
As the 2026 budget implementation approaches, questions are likely to continue over spending priorities in a state grappling with rapid urban growth and stark socioeconomic disparities. For many observers, the image of children sleeping beside the Victoria Island expressway has become a powerful symbol of the challenges facing Africa’s largest city.
