Lagos Reels out Plan to Deliver 7,000 Housing Units by 2022

Segun James

The Lagos State Government at the weekend reeled out an ambitious plan to complete at least 7,000 housing units as part of its efforts to bridge the state’s housing deficit currently standing at about 2.5 million.

By 2022 fiscal year, according to the state government, at least 7,000 housing units would have been completed in different parts of the states through joint ventures and budgetary allocation with the sustained drive to deliver more decent homes to Lagos residents.

The Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai made this disclosure in response to THISDAY’s inquiries Friday, pointing out diverse initiatives by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to bridge the housing deficit.

Akinderu-Fatai revealed this plan few days after Sanwo-Olu inaugurated 774 housing units at Sangotedo area of the state and about three weeks he unveiled 480 housing units in 480 housing units at Ibeshe, Ikorodu Local Government Area.

As a testament to Sanwo-Olu’s resolve to deliver more decent homes across the state, the commissioner put the number of housing schemes completed between 2019 and 2021 at 14, apart from those already scheduled for completion in 2022.

He, therefore, listed housing schemes that had been completed under Sanwo-Olu’s administration to includeAlhaji Lateef Jakande Gardens, Igando; Courtland Villas, Igbokushu; Lekki Apartments, Lekki; Lagos State Affordable Housing Scheme; Bayview Estate, Lekki and Sunnyville Apartments, Ogba.

Among others, according to him, the completed housing schemes comprise Phoenix Apartments, Ilupeju; LagosHOMS, Lekki Phase II; Babatunde Raji Fashola Estate, Iponri; Prince Abiodun Ogunleye Estate, Igbogbo; LagosHOMS, Omole I; LagosHOMS, Omole II; LagosHOMS, Magodo I; B.O.Benson Estate, Ibeshe and LagosHoms, Sangotedo I.

Akinderu-Fatai attested to Sanwo-Olu’s resolve to provide more decent homes for Lagos residents, which according to him, had become a hallmark of his administration.

Within the past 26 months, the commissioner acknowledged that the state government “has delivered 14 housing schemes in various parts of the State in line with its pledge and mandate within the context of THEMES agenda.

“These projects achieved via the Ministry of Housing, Lagos State Property and Development Corporation, and Joint Ventures with private investors have brought into being livable communities that are adding values to the lives of many people.”

Breaking the units in the housing schemes, Akinderu-Fatai said Sangotedo Phase I comprised 744 homes in 62 blocks of 12 homes each, which he described as one of the biggest housing schemes in the state.

He said: “There are 248 one bed, 248 two bedroom and 248 three bedroom apartments in the scheme. This estate is the largest of the LagosHoms schemes and will impact greatly on the housing deficit statistics in the State.

“When Phase II of Sangotedo LagosHOMS is delivered in due course, there will be an additional 444 homes to the housing stock in the area. The infrastructure components in this estate include a network of well structured roads, adequate drainage system, perimeter fence, sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant and electricity,” Akinderu-Fatai explained.

In the case of Ibeshe Housing Scheme, the commissioner said there “are 480 new homes of various categories in this neighbourhood. The socio economic indices of the area are bound to improve as the scheme comes on stream.”

According to him, there are 132 housing units in Babatunde Raji Fashola Estate, Iponri; 360 in Prince Abiodun Ogunleye Estate, Igbogbo; 492 in Alhaji Lateef Jakande Gardens, Igando and 252 in Lagos State Affordable Housing Scheme, Idale.

Sanwo-Olu had however disclosed that plans are in the offing to build the competence of local artisans and craftsmen in the state in a bid to reduce incidences of building collapse, cost of property development and enhance quality in housing development in the state.

He had said the plan was “to sharpen the skills of Nigerians in the trade and craft connected with building and bring them at par with their contemporaries in the region and the world at large.

“There is so much skill gap in the built sector which forced Nigerian developers to prefer artisans from other countries. The construction industry has a large potential for economic engagement for the young people in the country,” the governor had noted.