The Lagos State Government says it is working assiduously to finish ongoing housing projects in the state to tackle the current deficit.
The state Commissioner for Housing, Mr Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, said this at a Ministerial Briefing to commemorate the first year of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
He said that the state was partnering the Federal Government on the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative to provide over 2,000 housing units in Ipaja and Ibeju Lekki.
Akinderu-Fatai also said there was an ongoing discussion with a private finance institution to provide 800 housing units at Odola in Ikorodu division.
According to him, these initiatives are targeted at first time owners and low income earners, with 10 years to 15 years mortgage
Akinderu-Fatai further said that government was currently conducting re-evaluation of old estates in the state.
He said that the reevaluation was with a plan to restore their infrastructure and maximize the available lands for greater home yield.
The commissioner also decried the non compliance of some residents with extant rules put in place to promote peaceful coexistence of all allotees in its estates.
Such infractions, he said, included non-payment of service charges, bypass of electric meters and cult activities.
He warned that the state government would revoke allocations of allotees who failed to comply with agreements executed at the point of release of homes.
Akinderu-Fatai warned allotees of the estates to desist from the practices contravening the original master plans of the estates through various alterations, modifications and adjustments.
He noted that the ministry was in the process of reverting to the original master plan of its estates while steps have been taken to seal properties of violators.
The commissioner said that the state government might revoke allocations to property owners violating terms of occupation of the estates.
Akinderu-Fatai also confirmed the readiness of the Lagos State Government to enhance fairness and transparency in the allocation of housing units through the use of ballot in the allocation of some of its housing units.
He added that the first balloting exercise will be conducted for Lagos State Public Affordable Housing, Idale in Badagry Division and LagosHoms at Odo-Onosa/Ayandelu in Epe Division.
The ballot, he said, would hold on June 4, adding that the process would be monitored by independent observers.
He called on residents of the state to be wary of the activities of dubious individuals or organisations parading themselves as registered Real Estate agents in the state.
He said that it was an offence for an individual or organisation to engage in Real Estate business without due registration with Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency (LASRERA).
He urged the practitioners in the sector to always act responsibly and follow the path of the law.
Akinderu-Fatai said the Lagos State Judiciary in collaboration with LASRERA had promised to expedite actions on court matters relating to Real Estate in order to obtain timely justice for defrauded members of the public.
He highlighted some of the activities of his ministry and mentioned the introduction of Joint Venture guidelines for effective Public Private Collaboration.
He said, ” Other activities are the use of technology for efficiency in monitoring of Housing projects, initiating of sinking fund for the external painting of the housing units in all new estates at three to five years interval.
“And enforcement of insurance of housing units against natural disasters and implementation of 40 per cent rebate for homes allocated to 698 civil servants in the State.”
He disclosed that the ministry through an improved revenue generation machinery was able to collect outstanding debts totalling N176, 617, 500. 00 from defaulting allotees in some ot its estates.
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He listed these to include: Millennium Housing Estate, Gbagada, Baba Omojola Housing Estate, Gbagada, Millennium Housing Estate, Oke-Eletu, Emeka Anyaokwu Housing Estate, Ikeja and Millennium Housing Estate, Ojokoro.
The commissioner also enumerated some of the challenges facing the ministry to include encroachments on state owned land for housing projects, litigations, and slow pace of work by joint venture partners.
Others are inflationary trends and challenges with recalcitrant allotees and residents.(NAN)
