Lagos, bustling with life and energy, is also struggling with a significant housing crisis. The demand for housing in the city far outstrips the available supply, leading to skyrocketing property prices and rents. According to Era Iyayi, the Founder of Citiliving, an innovative proptech startup in Lagos,
“We cannot AI our way out of it.”
This statement underscores the severity of the situation – a crisis that has been decades in the making.
The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria estimates Nigeria’s housing deficit at over 28 million units as of 2023, with an annual increase of 900,000 units. In Lagos alone, more than 60% of the population resides in rented accommodations that are often overcrowded and substandard. The rapid urbanization experienced by Lagos is one of the key factors exacerbating this crisis. From 2000 to 2025, Lagos’ population surged by a staggering 136%, reaching 17.6 million residents.
Despite efforts such as low-cost housing initiatives introduced in previous decades, various issues like government inconsistency, weak enforcement of planning regulations, forced evictions without resettlement plans, bureaucratic land systems, and neglect of affordable housing have compounded Lagos’ housing challenges over time.
In the midst of this crisis stands Citiliving – a startup that dares to be different. Unlike typical proptech startups that focus on listing homes or providing financial aid to renters, Citiliving is constructing apartments in strategic locations within Lagos. Their approach challenges conventional methods by directly addressing the core issue: lack of supply.
“We’re not just trying to help people find existing homes; we’re creating new ones,”
says Iyayi. By targeting high-demand areas like Ikeja and Lekki for construction projects rather than peripheral locations with limited infrastructure access, Citiliving aims to make quality housing more accessible where it is most needed.
To fund their ambitious projects which include building hundreds of new units across cities like Lagos and Abuja by 2025 , Citiliving adopts an innovative joint venture model with landowners instead of direct financing. This unique approach allows them to leverage partnerships for strategic land access while retail investors purchase units off-plan to finance construction.
Citiliving’s tech platform serves as a central hub connecting renters, investors, developers and real estate agents seamlessly even after construction is complete . This digital ecosystem streamlines processes such as credit checks on tenants , rent collection automation , property management dashboards and verified listings . Moreover , they ensure transparency through flat administrative fees replacing traditional rental costs .
While challenges persist due to misconceptions about its hybrid developer-proptech nature , Citiliving remains committed to simplifying rental experiences for all stakeholders . By generating revenue from development sales , property management services and platform-enabled transactions , they aim not only at profits but also at revolutionizing how Nigerians access quality living spaces .
Iyayi views competition not as adversaries but as fellow pioneers striving towards alleviating Nigeria’s massive housing problem collectively . With a clear vision for empowering individuals from all backgrounds with seamless access to quality living spaces , he emphasizes community support over mere financial investment .
As Citiliving continues its journey towards reshaping Lagos’ real estate landscape , Iyayi remains focused on his ultimate dream : enabling every Nigerian – regardless of background or location -to secure suitable accommodation effortlessly . Through relentless dedication and innovative solutions like those offered by Citiliving , hope shines bright amidst Lagos’ challenging housing landscape .
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