Lagos plans 7,000 new homes for low- income earners in 2022
• Partners BCPG on building collapse prevention
MORE landlords would emerge this year, going by the Lagos State Government’s plan to build 7,000 new homes for lowincome earners.
The new homes will complement the recently completed 744 housing units at Sangotedo and another 660 units of Lagos Home Ownership and Mortgage Scheme ( Lagos HOMS) at Odo- Onosa Ayandelu in Ikosi- Ejirin Local Council Development Area.
The Guardian learnt that the state has already acquired 60 hectares of land in Okokomaiko to ensure that Lagosians actualise their dreams of becoming homeowners.
Confirming this development, the state’s Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu- Fatai, said this is part of efforts by the Sanwo- Olu administration to address the housing deficit due to the growing population figure.
He said discussions with property developers have reached advanced stages as the state is set to begin development of 3,600 low
income houses, comprising one- bedroom and two- bedroom flats.
In addition to the ongoing projects, he said the government, in partnership with some international organisations, would embark on mass housing, assuring that more schemes will be delivered to the people.
Akinderu- Fatai disclosed
that the proposed projects are financed through direct budgetary allocations.
The commissioner stressed that the present administration is also engaging multinationals, Ministries Departments and Agencies ( MDAS) to build and finance housing, saying the option is viable as land is a limited resource in Lagos.
According to him, the government’s various initiatives to bridge housing deficit can only be achieved by maximising land resources through the construction of high- rise buildings.
The commissioner also said that all the Lagoshoms have the same facilities irrespective of their locations.
MEANWHILE, the state government plans to collaborate with the Building Collapse Prevention Guild ( BCPG) on the prevention of building collapse.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who announced the plan, while receiving members of the
BCPG last week, expressed government’s desire to collaborate with professional bodies, especially the BCPG to stem the tide of building collapse.
He urged the Guild to be more forthcoming in its relationship with the ministry towards ensuring adequate monitoring of the physical environment, with a view to eradicating all forms of illegality in building construction.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Abiola Kosegbe, emphasised the need for professionals to take control of the building construction industry by reporting illegal practices and curbing quackery.
She said the online approval platform of the ministry, which is about to take off fully, would provide an unequalled opportunity to validate professionals on building construction projects through the platforms of their various professional bodies.
BCPG President, Eddy Atumonyogo, welcomed the extension of collaboration to the Guild by the ministry and called for the codification of buildings to ease enforcement in the state.