The Lagos State Government has promised to provide sustainable infrastructure to improve the well-being of residents of state government-owned housing estates across the state.
The Commissioner for Housing, Mr Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, stated this during the monthly stakeholders’ meeting and public enlightenment programme with residents of state government-owned housing estates in Lagos Island Division, held at LagosHoms Ikota, Lekki Phase 2.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Abdulhafiz Toriola, said it was the responsibility of the government to collaborate with stakeholders and provide world-class infrastructure that would make life meaningful for citizens.
Toriola said the developmental agenda of the current administration was to ensure that governance and state development reached every segment of society.
He noted that the high cost of living in the country called for a switch to alternative measures, particularly in addressing the cost of energy consumption in Nigeria.
“Government acknowledged the current economic realities and with the high cost of living in the country, switching to renewable energy is the way to go. And the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has consistently activated 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, such as 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,” Toriola said.
Stakeholders’ Meeting
The Commissioner explained that the stakeholders’ meeting had helped to identify grey areas within the housing ecosystem, adding that this had added value to government-owned housing estates as the state government continued to create standard operational systems in the sector.
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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 happening in developed countries.”
Toriola addressed issues of sinking funds, service charges, electricity tariffs, waste management, among other pertinent issues raised by participants during the forum.
Achieving Synergy
In her welcome address, the Director, Estate Department, ESV. Olukemi Fosudo, said the essence of the stakeholders’ forum was to strengthen direct communication between the ministry, 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 neighbourhood management strategies topreserve the value safety and sustainability of our public housing estate.”
Agencies’ Engagement
In their brief presentations, some government agencies engaged the allottees on updated policies and other innovative ideas to make government housing estates safer and more liveable.
Officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources enjoined residents to participate in the monthly environmental sanitation, while assuring them of the government’s critical interventions in proper and efficient waste management.
Also, the Fire and Rescue Service enjoined the allottees to familiarise themselves with the laws guiding buildings in the state, while emphasising necessary preventive measures against fire outbreaks.
Other agencies at the meeting included the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) and insurance firms, among others.
Taking Ownership
In his goodwill message, Chairman, Ikota Housing Estate, Lekki Phase 2, Kayode Smith, appreciated the State Government, through the ministry, for always addressing the concerns of government-owned housing estates, pledging their unalloyed support to take ownership of the property and comply with all rules of allocation.
Other representatives of neighbouring estates around the division also eulogised the commitment of the state government to making living in government housing estates in Lagos State comfortable and memorable.
