The collaboration between the Bola Tinubu government and the Lagos administration is all set to expand the Nigerian state’s housing stock by 2000 units.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, the collaboration, based on the Renew Hope Housing Initiative, aims at providing over 2,000 homes in Ipaja and Ibeju-Lekki. Also, discussions are going on with a private finance institution to provide 800 housing units at Odola in Ikorodu division.
Akinderu-Fatai told the Nigerian Tribune, “All these initiatives are targeted at first time owners and low-income earners, with mortgages ranging from 10 years to 15 years,” affirming the readiness of state government to provide more homes by speedily completing its ongoing housing schemes across the administrative divisions of Lagos.
Akinderu-Fatai also revealed that the old estates were being re-evaluated with a plan to restore their infrastructure and maximise the available lands for greater home yield.
In addition, the official pointed out that residents of some of the ministry’s estates do not comply with the extant rules put in place to promote peaceful coexistence of all allottees in the estates. Such infractions, according to Akinderu-Fatai, included non-payment of Service charges, bypass of electric metres and cult activities.
Akinderu-Fatai also warned that the Lagos government has resolved to act resolutely by revoking the allocations of allottees who do not comply with agreements signed at the point of release of homes.
He also warned the allottees of the estates to refrain from the practice of deviating from the original master plans of the estates through alterations and adjustments.
According to Akinderu-Fatai, the ministry is in the process of reverting to the original master plans and steps have been taken to notify and seal the properties affected.
He told the Nigerian Tribune about the probability of the Lagos government retrieving any contravening property in accordance with the agreement signed with the allottees, if the situation arises. He also confirmed the readiness of the administration to enhance fairness and transparency in the allocation of housing units through the use of a ballot in allocating some of its home units.
Akinderu-Fatai stated 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 in June 2024 and 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/organisations who are parading themselves as registered real estate agents in the state.
“It is an offence for an individual or organisation to engage in real estate business without due registration with Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency (LASRERA),” the official said, urging the practitioners in the sector to act responsibly and follow the law.
The Lagos State Judiciary, in collaboration with LASRERA, has reportedly promised to expedite actions on court matters relating to the region’s real estate sector in order to obtain timely justice for defrauded members of the public.
Akinderu-Fatai, while 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 housing projects, initiation 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% rebate for homes allocated to 698 civil servants in Lagos.
He also listed some of the challenges facing the ministry as encroachments on state-owned land for housing projects, litigations, slow pace of work by joint venture partners, issues related to the allocation of the homes due to its limited number, inflationary trends and challenges with recalcitrant allottees and residents.