By Olusegun Olanrewaju
The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, on Thursday, disclosed that the state is partnering with private investors to build more affordable homes for residents.
Akinderu-Fatai, who said this during a media parley at the state secretariat in Lagos, also disclosed plans for several interventions to increase housing schemes in 2024.
The Commissioner noted that the government is aware of the uncontrolled influx of people into Lagos, adding that the development has put pressure on the government to build more homes to bridge the gap of housing deficit.
According to him, partnership with private investors is one of the strategies being used by the State Government to increase the availability of decent homes in the State.
He said, “We will continue to respond to the challenges of housing deficit particularly the low-income earners, through involvement of the private sector.”
Akinderu-Fatai said to achieve the goals of sustainable provision of decent homes in the state and line with the THEMES+ agenda, government would collaborate with private investors to achieve the Lagos of ‘our dreams’.
He said, “We cannot afford to be held back in the provision of decent homes, our word stands as our bond in the housing sector of making Lagosians homeowners to reduce housing insufficiency in the state. It is the passion of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration to see that the housing deficit is reduced to the barest minimum.”
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Speaking on funding of the housing delivery, the Commissioner said the budget of the state would not meet up with the huge gap of housing requirements of the people hence the need to partner with the players in the real estate sector.
He said it was the only solution to building more affordable homes for the low and high-income earners in the state.
Akinderu-Fatai said that inflation poses a challenge to building more homes and effectively bridging the housing gap, the state was also considering granting incentives to private investors who are financially able to support the state government to build for the low-income earners.
The Commissioner mentioned that the State Government will continue to cater to the needs of first-time buyers who are in dire need of such accommodation facilities through outright purchase and rent platforms.
Speaking on the issue of security concerns in some of the housing schemes, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Engr Abdulhafis Toriola, said a lot of complaints have been received from some of the estates.
There were reports that some homeowners were harbouring people with questionable characters, thus posing threats to residents.
He said, “The Ministry, as a matter of urgency, shall investigate and take the right step towards safeguarding the lives and prosperity of residents in the affected estates.”
The Permanent Secretary also urged allottees to take ownership of joint facilities and follow the rules put in place to maintain the estates.
