FASHOLA INSPECTS LBIC SCHEME, LAGOS HOMS, IGANDO-EGAN, SAYS GOVERNMENT WILL COMPLETE THE HOUSING ESTATE ON THE LOCATION …Says the road to the project will be given facelift soon and fully rebuilt when project is completed Respite Thursday came the way of depositors of the Igando-Egan Housing Estate as the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), inspected the Estate and gave a commitment that the Government would complete the old Housing project and allocate to those who have fully paid before embarking on the new Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) within the estate. The Governor also promised to rebuild the Ekunnrin Road leading to the Estate, explaining that the state of the road has not been addressed because Government felt that if it is done before the contractors bring in their heavy duty equipment, whatever work done on the road would be destroyed. The old Housing Estate was begun by the Lagos Building and Investment Corporation (LBIC) some years back but was abandoned probably as a result of paucity of fund. The Estate has a total of 89 blocks consisting of about 600 apartments for which some prospective allottees have fully paid while others have made part payment. Fielding questions from newsmen after the inspection, Fashola, who assured that his administration would complete the scheme, said although it is challenging, Government has already began moves to get the project back on track. “This is a rather challenging scheme. In the bid to provide access to housing, our parastatal, the LBIC, whose core function really is Mortgage Banking, began in good faith to intervene a few years back”, the Governor said adding that because it is an area which requires specialty treatment, Government has decided to enlist the help of another department to help put the project on track again. According to him, “As a Government, we have asked the department of Government who has the specialty to now provide project management and consultancy service and to hold their hands and get this project back on track”. He added that Government has re-awarded the contract since December last year and is now financing the various contractors. “There are 89 blocks and that will be over 600 apartments. The contractors are gradually taking control; those doing the roads, those doing the housing. I am sure that in the next few months we are going to pay very prompt attention to this,” Fashola said adding, “I will be here more frequently to work through with the contractors to ensure that we complete the project very quickly”. He said the need to work quickly to complete the project was informed by the fact that there is a lot of scope for expansion and Government intends to inject some of the newer Lagos HOMS design into the scheme adding, however, that this can only happen after the project has been completed. “There is still room, there is still land. But we need to finish this where people have paid, money has been collected”, the Governor said emphasizing that only those who have fully paid are the priority of the Government for now. “I must be clear about that, those who have fully paid are our first priority”, he said. He, however, said for those who have made part payment, Government would need to rework some issues “because clearly things have changed”, adding, “But we will find a way where we can meet them in the middle to also enable them take possession, then the mortgage scheme will now start in the extra land here”. Regarding the road to the Estate, Fashola said, “As the contractors settle in, work on stabilizing the road will start. And ultimately, we will not handover this project without rebuilding the road”, adding, however, “Meanwhile we will make some palliatives to make the road motorable because it will also help our turnaround time for our contractors. We cannot rebuild the road fully now but when the project is finished, that road will be rebuilt”. Those who accompanied the Governor to the site included members of the State Executive Council such as Commissioners for Commerce and Industry, Establishment, Training and Pension and Information and Strategy, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase and Mr. Lateef Ibirogba respectively, Special Adviser on Housing, Mr. Jimoh Ajao, Chairman of Egbe/Idimu LCDA, Hon. Adebayo Bello and his Igando/Ikotun counterpart, Hon. (Mrs.) Adesina-Williams Morenike among other top Government officials. He was conducted round the project by the Project Coordinator, Engnr. Femi Wahab.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 17:14:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015