Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai
By Moses Adeniyi
The Lagos State Government (LASG) has declared commitment to ensure fairness and transparency in the allocation of housing units in the State, announcing the commencement of a ballot system for interested member of the public.
Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai affirmed the readiness of the State to the task on Thursday during the ongoing Y2024 Ministerial Briefing holding at the State Capital, Ikeja, organised to commemorate the first anniversary of the second term in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Akinderu-Fatai 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 disclosed 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 organisations who parade themselves as registered Real Estate agents in the State.
He disclosed that it is an offence for an individual or organisation to engage in Real Estate business without due registration with the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency (LASRERA), urging the practitioners in the sector to always act responsibly and follow the path of the law.
Furthermore, he averred that the Lagos State Judiciary, in collaboration with LASRERA, has promised to expedite actions on court matters relating to Real Estate to obtain timely justice for defrauded members of the public.
Hon. Akinderu-Fatai also 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 funds for the external painting of the housing units in all new estates at three to five years intervals 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 Anyaoku Housing Estate, Ikeja and Millennium Housing Estate, Ojokoro.
The Commissioner, however, 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.
