Sanwo-Olu hands over 270 home units to Egan allottees

By Adeola Ogunrinde

Lagos State Governor, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, has handed over 270 out of 846 home units at Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Estate in Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development, LCDA, Area of the State.

Sanwo-Olu stressed the need for private sector’s collaboration in bridging the gab in provision of affordable homes for the masses in Lagos.

The Governor expressed commitment of his administration towards providing quality, affordable housing to teeming residents, irrespective of tribe, class, in bridging the housing deficit in the state.

Sanwo-Olu made the remarks on Thursday, during the handover and commissioning of 270 out of 846 home units at Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Estate in Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development, LCDA, Area of the state, completed by the Ministry of Housing, led by Commissioner Moruf Akinderu-Fatai.

The infrastructural components in the estate include: a network of well-structured roads, well-channeled drainage system, ingestion station, ample car parks, potable water, perimeter fence, central sewage treatment plant and electricity transformers.

According to Sanwo-Olu, “This landmark project marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to providing affordable and quality housing for the people of Lagos State.

“Today, we celebrate the completion of buildings, the realization of dreams, the creation of communities, and the promise of a brighter future for many families.

“The Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Scheme is a testament to our unwavering dedication to improving the lives of our citizens through strategic and sustainable development.

“Housing is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of social and economic stability. With the completion of these 270 units, we are not only addressing the urgent need for affordable housing but also fostering a sense of community and belonging among our residents.

“This project is designed to cater to diverse socio-economic groups, reflecting our vision of an inclusive society where everyone has a place to call home. Our greatest asset is the citizens of this State, forming the solid foundation upon which we build our accomplishments.

“The roads, bridges, and other physical infrastructure we construct are designed to improve life for our people.

“We are resolute in our commitment to make significant investments in affordable housing to bridge the gap between the demand and supply in the housing sector.

“To eliminate the deficit and achieve a 21st-century economy, we must innovate and partner with private investors to bridge the housing gap.”

Akinderu-Fatai said, “The commissioning ceremony of the Housing Estate (Cluster 1), is a landmark project that stands as a testament to Mr. Governor, Sanwo Olu’s commitment to providing affordable and quality housing for the residents of Lagos State.

“This significant occasion marks the completion of 270 units of 2-bedroom apartments, a vital step towards alleviating the housing deficit in Lagos, hence bringing succor to the beloved people of the Igando-Ikotun LCDA in Alimosho LGA.

“The journey of Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Scheme began in 2001, with the ambitious goal of delivering 846 housing units to sub-urban dwellers in the state.

“However due to funding issues, the project was abandoned and transferred to the Lagos Building Investment Corporation (LBIC) in 2006.

“Despite significant interest and financial commitments from over 924 subscribers, the project stalled again and was taken over by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure in 2013.

“With very minimal progress recorded, the project was returned to the Ministry of Housing in Year 2016 by the former Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

“In a transformational pursuit to making Lagos a 21st Century Economy under the Year 2019 T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of our able Governor, Mr. Sanwo Olu, a holistic approach to complete the Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Scheme alongside other ongoing projects began.

“Today, we are proud to present Cluster 1, with 45 blocks consisting of 270 units of 2 Bedroom Apartments with complimentary infrastructure.

“We not only celebrate the completion of these units but also the resilience, dedication, and hard work that has brought this vision to reality.

“As we hand over the keys to the new homeowners, we reaffirm our commitment to completing Clusters 2 and 3. We will continue to work assiduously to overcome any challenges, ensuring that every promised units are delivered.”

The Commissioner disclosed that the Governor had approved that all existing subscribers with full payment for either a unit of 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom flat be given allocation from this very cluster at no additional fees to the selling price.

However, other subscribers with more than 50 per cent commitment on the initial selling price shall be considered with an option to balance up at the current selling price.

Akinderu-Fatai continued; “When the clusters 2 and 3 of the scheme is delivered in due course, there will be an additional 576 homes to the housing stock in the area, thus bringing us to the original vision of the project.

“This project was faced with a lot of challenges which made it a herculean task for over two decades but for the unwavering commitment of the present administration, the narrative has changed today marking another giant stride in the Housing history of Lagos State.

“We are also using this medium to call for more private participation in strengthening our resolve to reduce the challenge of housing deficit in the State.

“Though we have made significant financial investment through budgetary allocations towards completion of all existing housing schemes, we still need private sector’s support and contributions in order to speedily achieve the Lagos of our dreams.