Lagos on path to end three million housing deficit- Commissioner
Lagos state Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, said the state government is on the path to end the three million housing deficit in the State, with its Rent-To-Own Housing Scheme, describing it as a step in the right direction.
Lawal, who spoke in Lagos on Monday, while giving account of his stewardship in the last one year; in commemoration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s two years in office, said the task would not be easy but was achievable.
“In Lagos, we have a housing deficit of three million. Nationally, there is a 17 million housing deficit. This is a huge challenge and you will agree with me that with the situation in Lagos and the Rent-To-Own Scheme, we might not be able to do it alone.
“That is why we’re calling on private bodies to join hands with us as we strive to nip this situation in the bud. Government cannot do it alone, we will need to partner with private organisations who are willing to support us in achieving this dream,” he said.
The commissioner stressed that providing adequate housing has always been a challenge in the State, in view of rapid urbanisation, which has led to tremendous increase in population even though the State has the smallest land mass of 3,557 square kilometers in the nation.
He said the strategy of the present administration towards solving the housing challenges is to tackle the issues from both the supply and demand ends, while at the same time ensuring the sustainability of existing estates.
In order to boost supply towards reducing the housing deficit, he said the Ministry of Housing had prioritised the completion of ongoing housing estates, while at the same time, entering into partnership with the private sector in the delivery of new housing estates.
He mentioned Sir Michael Otedola Estate, Odoragunshin, Epe, which has 336 units; Chois City, Agbowa, with 400 units; Iponri Estate, Surulere, with 132 units; Sangotedo Estate, Eti-Osa, with 1,188 units; Odo-Onosa/Ayandelu, with 660 units; Igando Gardens, Igando Alimosho, with 492 units, among others, as some of the Estates under the Rent-To-Own and Rental Housing policies launched by governor Ambode on Thursday December 8, 2016.
