For some Lagos State Civil Servants, their dreams of owning houses came true yesterday.
One hundred of them were presented keys to their states under the Government Akinwunmi Ambodes administration’s Rent-To-Own housing policy. They are the first of allottees.
Commissioner for Housing Gbolahan Lawal, who represented the governor at the ceremony, held in the conference room of the Staff Clinic, said under the policy, the government would make housing more readily affordable and accessible to the citizenry.
According to him, “the need to create a new face of accommodation for Lagosians especially the low and middle income earners has become imperative in view of the ever increasing population of the state.”
Under the policy, all prospective home owners’ must do, he said, was to make five percent commitment fee, take possession and pay up the balance become the property owner in 10 years.
He recalled that many did not believe three months ago when the governor launched the policy in Epe, Ikorodu Agbowa and Ojokoro, adding that today even the doubting Thomases have benefited from the gesture.
The allocation, he said, would be taking place monthly in a fair and just manner, devoid of lobbying or favoritism.
Lawal said allocation had begun in five of the 12 estates earmarked for the exercise.
The estates are Michael Otedola in Odoragunshin, Ope; Oba Adeboruwa, Igbogbo, Ikorodu; Choice City, Agbowa; Hon. Olaitan Mustapha, Alhaja Adetoun Mustapha Apha, Ojokoro; Odo-Onosa/Ayandu Housing scheme, Agbowa, Igbogbo 2B Housing Estate, Ikorodu, Igando Gardens, Igando and Egan-Igando, Iponri scheme, Surulere, Sangotedo Scheme, Eti-Osa and Ajara Housing Scheme Badagry.
The commissioner 20 percent of the houses in each of the rent-to-own estate have been dedicated to the rental housing programme, which is targeted at meeting the needs of the citizens who may not be interested in ownership or cannot meet the 30 percent equity contribution requirement for mortgage or five percent commitment fee for rent-to-own.
Earlier, Lagos State Mortgage Board General Manager (GM). Dehinde Tunwashe said the selected estates under the scheme are in serene and gated communities. According to him, they have water treatment plants, adequate parking space, healthcare centre, estate management office, streetlights, recreational area and a police post.
Mr. Bamidele Olayiwola Idowu, who was allotted a two-bedroom flat at Sir Michael Otedola Estate, thanked the government for the initiative, repudiating his earlier presupposition that the scheme was a political gimmick.
Miss Leduwe Kikelomo Olajumoke, a beneficiary of a one-bedroom at Oba Adeboruwa Estate said she was still in shock that the scheme real.
“I am still in shock, but very happy. This is real. I just tried by luck, but I was surprised that I was selected. This is big, it is real and transparent and a testimony that it is good to be a tax payer in Lagos”, she said.
Mr. William Friday Nsebot, a chartered accountant from Akwa Ibom State, who was got a three-bedroom at Hon. Olaitan Mustapha Estate, said Ambode has proved that his administration “is truly all-inclusive”.
He described the allocation process as seamless, and hailed Lagos State Homs Mortgage Board staff for being courteous.