9th May 2024
The Federal and Lagos State governments through the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative is set to provide over 2,000 home units to residents of Ipaja and Ibeju Lekki, as part of efforts at bridging accommodation deficit in Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Lagos Mortgage Board had allocated a total of 4,096 affordable home units through mortgage or rent to own in the past nine years of existence.
Also, the state government through Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) had recovered the sum of N78, 134,000 and 18 properties on behalf of third parties through mediation process between tenants, land buyers, and fraudulent estate agents, land vendors and developers.
The state government also disclosed plans to commence allocation of some of housing schemes through the ballot process.
The state Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, made the remarks on Thursday, during the Ministerial Briefing to commemorate the first anniversary of the second term in office of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, held in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Akinderu-Fatai, affirmed the readiness of the state government to provide more homes by speedily completing its on-going housing schemes in all the administrative divisions of the state.
He further revealed that the state was collaborating with the federal government on Renewed Hope Housing Initiative to provide over 2000 home units in Ipaja and ibeju-Lekki.
Akinderu-Fatai, also said there was an on-going discussion with a private finance institution to provide 800 units at Odola in Ikorodu division.
“All these initiatives are targeted at first time owners and low income earners, with mortgages ranging from 10 to 15 years,” he said.
Akinderu-Fatai also revealed that the old estates were being re- evaluated with a plan to restore their infrastructure and maximize the available lands for greater home yield.
He disclosed that at least 646 civil servants had benefitted in the allocation of affordable housing units within the period under review, adding that 270 housing units would be commissioned by Governor Sanwo-Olu by the end of May.
In addition, the commissioner stressed that residents of some of the ministry’s estates did not comply with the extant rules put in place to promote peaceful co-existence of all allottees in the estates.
Such infractions, according to him, included non-payment of service charges, bypass of electric meters and cult activities.
He then warned that the state government had resolved to act resolutely by revoking the allocations of allotees who did not comply with agreements signed at the point of release of homes.
Akinderu-Fatai, also used the opportunity to warn allotees of the estates to desist from the practice of contravention of original master plans of the estates through various alterations, modifications and adjustments.
According to him, the ministry was in the process of reverting to the original master plans adding that steps had been taken to notify and seal the properties affected.
He also hinted that the state government might, on the long run, retrieve any contravening property in accordance with agreement signed with the allotees.
Akinderu-Fatai also confirmed the readiness of the 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 home units.
He added that the first balloting exercise would be conducted for Lagos State Public Affordable Housing, Idale in Badagry Division and Lagos Homs at Odo-Onosa/Ayandelu in Epe Division on the June 4, 2024, adding that the process would be monitored by independent observers.
Akinderu-Fatai further called on residents of the state to be wary of the activities of dubious individuals or organizations who were parading themselves as registered real estate agents in the state.
He warned: “it is an offence for an individual or organization to engage in Real Estate business without due registration with LASRERA and urged the practitioners in the sector to always act responsibly and follow the path of the law.
Akinderu-Fatai further 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.
The commissioner, highlighting some of the activities of his ministry, mentioned introduction of joint venture guidelines for effective public-private collaboration, the use of technology for efficiency in monitoring of housing projects, initiating of sinking fund for 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 further disclosed that the ministry through an improved revenue generation machinery was able to collect outstanding debts totaling N176, 617, 500. 00 from defaulting allotees in Millennium Housing Estate, Gbagada, Baba Omojola Housing Estate, Gbagada, Millennium Housing Estate, Oke-Eletu, Emeka Anyaokwu Housing Estate, Ikeja and Millennium Housing Estate, Ojokoro.
Akinderu-Fatai, however, listed some of the challenges facing the ministry as encroachment on state-owned land for housing projects, litigations, slow pace of work by joint venture partners, issues related to allocation of the homes due to its limited number, inflationary trends and challenges with recalcitrant allotees and residents.
