The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Lagos State Chapter, has thrown its weight behind the call by Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, for an improved economy that would enable young Nigerians to earn better and cope with rising living costs.
The council said Hamzat’s position appropriately linked the challenges of housing affordability, wages and the cost of living, stressing that young people cannot achieve financial independence when their incomes are increasingly outpaced by rent and other basic expenses.
Hamzat, while speaking during a recent question-and-answer session on Nigeria Info FM, emphasised the need to build an economy that would improve citizens’ earning capacity and raise their standard of living. He also noted that young people starting their careers often rely on parents or relatives for accommodation.
Reacting to the Deputy Governor’s remarks, NYCN Lagos Chairman, Engr. Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, MNSE, said family support should serve as a temporary safety net rather than a substitute for policies that make independent living achievable for young Nigerians.
The council called for increased investment in affordable housing, improved wages, decent employment opportunities, youth-focused economic programmes and accessible housing finance. It also backed Hamzat’s call to address the rising cost of essential goods and services, saying this was necessary to restore the purchasing power of young workers.
NYCN Lagos said the solution was not to lower the aspirations of young people but to create an economy where their aspirations could become economically achievable. The council commended Hamzat for placing youth welfare, earnings and housing within the broader economic conversation and pledged continued engagement with the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders on issues affecting young people.
