Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Ogun State Government has said that no fewer than 500 low income housing units will soon be inaugurated and allocated to residents of the state.
The housing units constructed in three schemes christened Prince Court Estates in Sagamu, Ijebu Ode and Ilaro, according to the state government, will go a long way in closing the housing deficit in Ogun.
The Commissioner for Housing in the state, Jamiu Akande Omoniyi, stated this while addressing newsmen at the Conference Room, Ministry of Housing, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Omoniyi explained that the establishment of the housing schemes across the three senatorial districts by Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration was aimed at building affordable but qualitative houses for the masses of the people of Ogun, especially the low income earners.
He added that in the first term of the incumbent governor between 2019 and 2023, 4,000 housing units were constructed by the Ministry of Housing, Ogun State Housing Corporation and Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC), respectively.
The Commissioner stated further that before now, 2 bedroom housing units in Prince Courts Estate at Kobape and Kemta Idi Aba in Abeokuta, had been completed and duly allocated to subscribers.
He pointed out that the Governor Abiodun-led administration never intended to use the provision of the housing units as an avenue to make profit, rather, it was designed as a social service to make affordable houses available to the people.
Omoniyi argued that the Ogun State government has the cheapest low cost houses in the country, noting that a two bedroom bungalow that was sold elsewhere at the cost N15million, was made available to the people of the state at the cost N5.5million, with the civil servants getting a unit at a discounted rate of N4.9million.
On the issue of delayed allocation of houses to subscribers of the Phase 3 of Prince Court Estate, Kobape, he attributed inflation in the cost of building materials and other economic factors to the delay.
He, however, described as untrue, rumours making the rounds that the state government has defrauded subscribers, disclosing that 110 out of 200 subscribers will be allocated their property by Monday of next week.
“The state government has not defrauded any subscribers to our housing schemes. The unexpected astronomical rise in building materials and other economic factors have been responsible for the delay in the allocation of these houses. By Monday next week, 110 subscribers will be allocated their property.
“Also, we are ensuring that we avoid incidents of double allocation. And most of the subscribers spreading false information that the government defrauded them are mostly defaulters on the windows given to them to complete their payment.
“These defaulters are 36 and they will have their money refunded. Ordinarily, they ought to forfeit 10% of their deposits, but, the governor in his usual magnanimity, has instructed us to refund them 100%.
“54 subscribers are being scrutinized by the Internal Audit Office and soon as they are cleared, they will be allocated houses. Meanwhile, 20 subscribers have had their offers for houses revoked in Kobape and Kemta, Abeokuta, for their failure to take physical possession since 2021. Their deposits will also be refunded”. Omoniyi stated.
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