Purpose of This Article
This article explains the non-representative nature of listing-based residential data used in Lagos-related content. Its purpose is to prevent the treatment of visible listings as proxies for residential stock, coverage, or city-wide residential conditions.
Listings as a Visibility Layer
Residential listings constitute a visibility layer shaped by publication choices, platform participation, and contributor behavior. They show what was advertised and observable at a specific moment, not what exists across the residential environment of Lagos.
Structural Sources of Non-Representativeness
Non-representativeness arises from multiple structural factors, including selective platform usage, voluntary listing submission, and exclusion of informal or off-platform housing arrangements. These factors systematically limit which residential assets become visible.
Absence Is Not Evidence
The absence of listings for a district, property type, or residential form cannot be interpreted as absence of housing or residential activity. It reflects non-visibility within selected platforms rather than residential non-existence.
Limits on Generalization
Because listing data is non-representative by construction, it cannot be generalized to population-level residential distributions, proportions, or characteristics. Any such generalization exceeds the informational scope of the dataset.
Interpretive Boundaries
This article establishes non-representativeness as a binding constraint. Listing-based materials support descriptive reference to visible offerings only and do not justify inference, extrapolation, or comparative evaluation.