The Lagos State Ministry of Housing has reaffirmed its commitment to providing sustainable infrastructure to improve the wellbeing and living conditions of residents in government-owned housing estates across the state.
The Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai gave the assurance during the monthly stakeholders’ meeting and public enlightenment with residents of the State government-owned housing estates in Lagos Island Division, held at LagosHoms Ikota, Lekki Phase 2.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Housing, Abdulhafiz Toriola, the Commissioner said that it is important to provide infrastructure that aligned with global standards around the government housing estates, to make life more meaningful for the residents.
He said government acknowledged the current economic realities, stressing that with the high cost of living in the country, switching to renewable energy is the way to go, as the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu would activate more support to cushion the effect of electricity tariff on the State housing estates.
“We have been doing a lot to assist our housing estates to thrive with numerous interventions. And we all know, the cost of living now in Nigeria is high because of the current reforms going on across the country and as it stands, electricity providers have increased their tariff. They have introduced different bands which is affecting some of the estates. And In terms of running common services like the sewage plant and auto water treatment plant. And what government has been doing is to see the area of intervention on how they can take that particular thing off the national grid by introducing renewable energy solar to be able to power the sewage and water treatment and that will reduce their cost of water operations. And we will provide this support for them to ease the burden off the residents.” he said.
The Commissioner said the stakeholders meeting has assisted to identify grey areas within the housing ecosystem and this according to him has added value to the government-owned housing estates, as the state government continues to create standard operational systems in the sector.
According to him, “the stakeholders engagement has helped us to improve our estates because we believe this heritage will continue to have value to it and that people can hand over this estate to maybe four generations just like what we have been seeing it happening in developed countries.”
He addressed issues of sinking funds, service charges, electricity tarrif, waste management, among other pertinent issues raised by the participants during the forum.
In her welcome address the Director, Estate Department, Olukemi Fosudo said the essence of the stakeholders forum is to strengthen direct communication between the ministry, the allottees, and facility managers, thereby guiding adherence to estate rules and regulations.
According to her “As a ministry, we believe that housing is more than shelter. When we build communities, we build markets and when we create homeowners, we create assets. And when families acquire assets, we begin to build intergenerational wealth. So, what we do with this engagement is to give updated housing policies, review operational challenges and receive feedback from resident executives to improve neighborhood management strategies to preserve the value safety and sustainability of our public housing estate.”
In their brief presentations, some agencies of the government engaged the allottees on updated policies and other innovative ideas to make government housing estates safer and liveable.
Officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources enjoined residents to participate in the monthly environmental sanitation, while assuring of the government’s critical interventions in proper and efficient waste management.
Also, the Fire and Rescue Service enjoined the allottees to get acquainted with the laws guiding buildings in the state, while emphasising on necessary preventive measures against fire outbreak. Other agencies at the meeting include Lagos State Health Management Agency, LASHMA, Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority LASRERA, Insurance firms among others.
In his goodwill message, Chairman Ikota Housing Estate, Lekki Phase 2, Mr Kayode Smith appreciated the State Government through the Ministry for always addressing the concerns of the Government-owned housing estates, pledging their unalloyed support to take ownership of the property and comply with all rules of allocation.
Other representatives of neighboring estates around the division also eulogised the commitment of the state government to make living in government housing estates in Lagos State comfortable, memorable and habitable.
