The Lagos State Government says it will continue to work to provide more homes by speedily completing its ongoing housing schemes in all the administrative divisions of the State.
The Commissioner for Housing, Mr Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, who gave the assurance at a news briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, said the State had a collaboration with the Federal government on Renewed Hope Housing initiative to provide over 2000 home units in Ipaja and Ibeju Lekki.
He also said there is an ongoing discussion with a private finance institution to provide 800 units at Odola in Ikorodu division.
Mr Akinderu-Fatai, who said that the cost of building and maintenance of houses had gone up by as much as three hundred percent making it difficult for the state to provide low-income houses, 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.
The Commissioner warned the allotees of the estates to desist from the practice of contravention of the original master plans of the estates through various alterations, modifications and adjustments. According to him, the Ministry is in the process of reverting to the original master plans and that steps have been taken to notify and seal the properties affected. He also hinted that the State Government may on the long run retrieve any contravening property in accordance with agreement signed with the allotees.
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 home 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 on the 4th of June 2024 and that the process will be monitored by independent observers.
He further called on residents of the State to be wary of the activities of dubious individuals or organizations who are parading themselves as registered Real Estate agents in the state. He disclosed that it is an offence for an individual or organization to engage in Real Estate business without due registration with Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency (LASRERA) and urged the practitioners in the sector to always act responsibly and follow the path of the law. Furthermore, he said the Lagos State Judiciary in collaboration with LASRERA has promised to expedite actions on court mattes relating to Real Estate in order to obtain timely justice for defrauded members of the public.
Mr Akinderu-Fatai , in highlighting some of the activities of his Ministry, mentioned the 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 the external painting of the housing units in all new estates at 3 to 5 years interval and enforcement of insurance of housing units against natural disasters and implementation of 40% 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 totalling 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.
On the issue of fraudulent estate agents defrauding unsuspecting members of the public, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs Barakat Odunuga-Bakare warned potential buyers especially in the Ibeju Lekki axis to patronise only licensed agents.
Mrs Odunuga-Bakare said the State Real Estate Regulatory Authority had penalized thirty-five estate agents for various infractions while some cases were at various stages in court.
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