The Lagos State Government has implemented measures to combat the skyrocketing prices of building materials, with the aim of expediting ongoing construction projects and promoting the delivery of affordable housing.
Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, the Commissioner for Housing, expressed his concerns during a site inspection of three estates under construction in Eti-Osa Local Government. He lamented the slow pace of construction attributed to price fluctuations in building materials.
Akinderu-Fatai assured that issues related to price fluctuations, driven by foreign exchange dynamics and rising material costs, would be addressed in discussions with contractors and the governor.
The commissioner, accompanied by Mr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, and Special Adviser on Housing, Mrs. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, visited the Sheridan, Sangotedo, and Abraham Adesanya estates.
Akinderu-Fatai highlighted that only 3,500 housing units have been completed out of the government’s targeted 7,000, underscoring the urgency to overcome challenges hindering construction progress.
Challenges slowing down the construction works included infrastructure-related issues, foreign exchange fluctuations impacting material costs, and a shortage of skilled labor.
Akinderu-Fatai provided assurance that work would soon resume vigorously across all estates, and more units would be added to fulfill the governor’s commitment to provide thousands of affordable housing units for Lagos residents.
He also promised that, by May 2024, during Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s first year anniversary in his second term, several additional schemes would be inaugurated.
Furthermore, he emphasized the government’s dedication to upholding high-quality standards to avoid the mistakes of the past when some buildings, constructed prior to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration, experienced structural issues and required reconstruction.
The commissioner disclosed that a meeting had been scheduled with various contractors to address pricing disparities for committed contractors and to terminate contracts with those failing to meet construction deadlines.
Akinderu-Fatai reiterated the government’s focus on providing affordable housing for low-income earners, stating that these housing schemes were not profit-oriented. He assured residents that measures were in place to prevent middlemen from taking advantage of housing opportunities intended for the public.
In an effort to ensure that housing units are occupied promptly, the government plans to refund the money of beneficiaries of the Rent-to-Own schemes who do not occupy their houses after three months and allocate the properties to those ready for occupancy.
Mrs. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, also stressed the importance of regulating private estate providers through the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA). She encouraged residents to contact LASRERA for assistance with transaction-related issues and announced plans to establish district offices in all local governments for easier access and dispute resolution.
Mr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, reassured residents of the reliability of the housing schemes and encouraged prospective homeowners to apply for houses through the ministry.
