Lagos state government set to provide more houses

Lagos state government set to provide more houses
Abdul-Semiu Babalola, Lagos

The Lagos State government in south west Nigeria is set to improve the living condition of residents of the state with the construction of affordable houses under the Iba New Town Development Scheme in the Ibefun Community Ijagemo area of Iba Local Council Development Authority.

The Governor of the state, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who gave the assurance during an inspection visit to the site, warned land speculators to desist from further encroaching on the acquired land.

According to a statement from the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Hakeem Bello, the Governor also assured the community that waiver given to those who had put up construction on the acquired land would be respected.

 “The State Government will not tolerate any situation where the waiver given to those who have already developed properties on the acquired land will encourage land speculators to engage in indiscriminate selling of the land”, the Governor warned.

Infrastructural development

Governor Fashola said his visit had also afforded him the opportunity to see the state of roads in Ikotun, Ijegun and Ijagemo which would enable the government plan adequately for it.

He said surveyors from the State Government would work out a strategy on how to incorporate the encroached portions into the plan of the State Government for the Iba New Town Development to enable the government set the construction process in motion.

The Governor also directed the Commissioner for Housing, Mr Bosun Jeje, who was present during the inspection, to liaise with his Physical Planning counterpart to set the boundaries for the existing encroachments and draw the map for his approval.

Earlier, the Head of Bada Family of Ijegemo, Mr Akibu Alade Salau Bada, had appealed to the Governor to consider on compassionate grounds the several property owners in the Ibefun community who have constructed on the acquired land several years ago.

He said many of the people were already expressing fears that they may lose their properties when the construction process commences and pleaded that the structures be allowed to stay.

The construction of the Iba New Town Development Scheme is being handled by VAN OORD Nigeria Limited.

It is expected to provide units of affordable houses to many residents of Lagos State in line with the electioneering promise of the Governor to that effect.

Williams