Housing: Lagos expresses readiness to partner developers

The Lagos State Government has expressed its readiness to partner all interested organisation in order to develop the housing sector, the State Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, has disclosed.

Lawal made this known while receiving the Study Group of Housing Types & Mortgage System for Low-Income Groups in Lagos State, coordinated by Arctic Infrastructure and Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Nigeria.

He applauded the laudable initiatives of the group to proffer solutions to the housing deficit in a mega city like Lagos with the ever-increasing population which has triggered inadequate infrastructure.

Lawal stated that the government of the day acknowledged the magnitude of the problem and is therefore vigorously addressing the issue of inadequate infrastructure.

“Lagos State is a fast growing mega city with a projected population growth of 30 million by the Year 2030; Government recognises the fact that in any fast growing urban city, there would always be slums. What is practicable in Germany’s urban slum upgrading may not be applicable in India or other countries owing to uniqueness and differences in culture. Lagos State government is exploring ways for slum upgrading and welcomes participation by the private sector,” Lawal said.

He also disclosed that the government has earmarked 20 per cent of the housing units in the various government-owned Estates for direct rent to the people who cannot afford an outright purchase, obtain a mortgage or provide the deposit required under the rent-to-own programme.

He promised that the government intends to support the initiatives of the Study Group in its planned housing summits and conferences later in the year.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Lookman Oshodi, Project Director, Arctic Infrastructure said that the study group had reviewed what has so far been done on the Rent-To-Own Scheme of the State government and has, therefore, come up with other possible solutions to ensure the provision of qualitative and affordable housing.

Oshodi stated that the study group is implementing a social housing project in Ikorodu axis, in addition to seeking the support of the State government in the series of conferences and summits being planned for the future.

Mrs. Monica Umunna, Project Manager of Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Nigeria in her contribution suggested that government should look into the promulgation of housing legislation and decentralisation to encourage private sector participation.