The new housing commissioner in Lagos, Maruf Akinderu-Fatai, has assured that the state government would speedily complete ongoing housing projects in the state, adding that private sector participation would be energized to yield an added value in the sector.
Lagos State has a large tranche of on-going housing projects, especially those meant for the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMS), an ambitious home ownership scheme initiated by the Babatunde Fashola administration and continued by the immediate past governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
The new commissioner hinted during a media briefing on Wednesday that Lagos was poised to compete favorably with other smart cities in the world in the area of provision of affordable housing for all.
He noted that many people come to Lagos everyday from all parts of Nigeria without any plans of returning to their hometowns. “Lagos is a unique destination of choice for not only Nigerians but also nationals of neighboring countries. People come to Lagos for various reasons. They do not have any plans for going back, thereby increasing the housing deficit on a daily basis. We have to provide decent accommodation for them all”.
Lagos has a dire housing situation. A report by Pison Housing Company on ‘The State of the Lagos Housing Market’ estimates housing deficit in Lagos at 3 million units, pointing out that the state needs to build about 200,000 housing units annually for the next 10 years to close this gap.
Akinderu-Fatai sees considerable challenge in achieving housing for all in the state, but assured that the present administration was capable of resolving that on a consistent basis, hence the need for speedy completion of ongoing housing schemes and the energisation of private sector participation.
“In spite of the present deficit, we are optimistic that Lagos state has the wherewithal to compete favourably with smart cities of the same category all over the world in providing housing; actualizing the vision of building a 21st century economy with decent shelter for all is within reach. Lagos is blessed with the potentialities and we are strongly committed to bringing it to fruition,’’ he said.
The commissioner called on all stake holders in the housing sector to support the government in order to achieve the vision of providing qualitative and affordable homes for all classes of people in the state.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on housing, Adetoke Benson-Awoyinka, had disclosed that the ministry would look into provision of temporary shelter for the distressed and vulnerable people in order to reduce the problem of homelessness and destitution.
Akinderu-Fatai, a former member of the House of Representatives Committee on Housing between 2007 and 2015, was part of Governor Sanwo-Olu cabinet inaugurated on Tuesday.
The governor tasked the Commissioners and Special Advisers who constitute the cabinet on diligence to duty, saying, “we must accelerate the trajectory of growth and development of Lagos as we can’t afford to disappoint Lagosians.”
He told the cabinet members that their appointment was well-deserved and a testament of their capacity, accomplishment and track record of hard work, commitment, dedication and professionalism in their private and public endeavors which must be brought to bear on their new assignment.
CHUKA UROKO
