Sanwo-Olu, Oniru Advocate Private Sector Partnership To Reduce Housing Deficit

 By BENJAMIN OMOIKE

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Oniru of Iruland, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, have called for more partnership from the private sector, so as to reduce housing deficit in the state.

According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, who spoke on Tuesday at the unveiling of two blocks of 38 units of two and three bedroom flats, in Victoria Island, he stated that his administration would ensure it realised its economic goals, fulfill the promises of its THEMES agenda and complete all ongoing projects in the state. 

The governor commended the management and staff of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation for keeping up the visions establishing it and called for more private sector partnership.

He assured Lagosians that before the end of this year, his administration would deliver more affordable and decent housing  for all categories of residents and vigorously pursue comprehensive urban renewal programmes to unlock the potential in each community in the state, to attract Lagosians both at home and in the Diaspora. 

On his part, Oniru of Iruland, Oba AbdulWasiu Omogbolan Lawal, who commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for thinking outside the box, said that he was happy that the governor’s vision for housing was in tandem with his vision to make Lagos compact and smart for the residents.

The revered Monarch said that Lagos has a very small landmass, hence, there’s need for the state to always convert any available space or  inactive property to good use for the hundreds of residents who are in need of housing.

He said the state could always explore the opportunity to make the state liveable for millions of residents in spite of the growing population.

The mini-housing scheme situated in a residential neighbourhood of Victoria Island, further raising the housing stock of the State.

Located in Sinari Daranijo Street, the scheme consists of twin blocks of 38-unit two-and three-bedroom flats on a land size of 2,832 square metres.The project makes it the 16th housing project completed and commissioned in the last three years by the Sanwo-Olu administration.

The Governor said the new milestone showed the result of collaboration between Government and the private sector, noting that his administration’s drive to provide affordable and decent housing for the residents through public-private collaboration had yielded positive outcomes.

Sanwo-Olu said the urban renewal agenda of the State Government remained on course, adding that the overall goal of provision of modern housing and infrastructure was to ensure that the State sustained its growth and the megacity status.

He said: “I congratulate LSDPC and Asset Brooks and Resources Limited on the successful completion of this edifice. Progress is, indeed, achievable when public and private sector enterprises come together, bringing their core strengths to the table, for the good of the entire society. This positive outcome is yet another testimony to the effective collaboration between Government and the private sector in the implementation of our agenda to provide affordable and decent housing for our people.

“I am impressed by the quality of work done by the contractor, which reflects the quality of monitoring and supervision by the LSDPC, which has sustained the high standards set long before now. We shall continue to pursue and implement this tried-and-tested model of public-private collaboration, as it has proven to be a potent strategy for keeping up with the rate of demand for housing by our rapidly increasing population.”

Sanwo-Olu said his administration had pursued its urban renewal policy vigorously, which resulted in rehabilitation and reconstruction of various infrastructure across the State.

He promised to continue to provide a supportive environment for business and investment to flourish, while improving life expectancy in the State. 

The Governor said the ongoing automation and digitisation reforms in property records and land administration in Lagos were already yielding positive outcomes, stressing that the Enterprise Geographic Information System (e-GIS) being introduced by the State Government for transparent land allocation would be ready before the end of the year.

“We are giving commitment that before the end of the year, our e-GIS platform, which will unlock openness and raise efficiency in processing of property titles within weeks at applicant’s comfort zone, will be delivered. Disagreements over land titles will be a thing of the past,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor assured residents that provision of decent, affordable housing remained a key priority for his administration, disclosing more housing schemes were due for completion across the State.

LSDPC Managing Director, Mr. Ayodeji Joseph, described the project as “another progress” recorded by the Sanwo-Olu administration in closing the housing deficit in Lagos.

Development of the Channel Point Apartments, the agency boss said, was conceptualised during Sanwo-Olu’s tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of LSDPC. He said the site of the project had two bungalow houses before the agency converted it into a mini estate.

Managing Director of Brook Assets and Resources Limited, Ms. Lanre Sola, said the scheme offered luxury accommodation for the comfort of the allottees. 

“Despite the challenges we encountered in the course of the development, including the paucity of funding occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19, we were resilient and showed great commitment to deliver the project,” she said.