By Maduka Nweke
The Lagos State Government has given a marching order to contractors handling any of their projects to deliver or have their contracts revoked. The state asked all contractors handling various housing projects on its behalf to deliver all aspects of the projects as scheduled in all contract agreements or have contracts terminated and re-awarded to those who will deliver on time.
Expressing his displeasure on the level of work done during a recent routine inspection to Sangotedo Housing Estate Eti Osa phase 2, the Commissioner for Housing in Lagos State, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai lamented that the project is yet to get to the expected level despite Lagos State Government commitment and support to the contractors.
The Commissioner repeated his dissatisfaction after an evaluation of the projects, formal briefs from project supervisors and a follow up meeting between the Ministry’s technical team and the project contractors today at the Ministry’s Conference Room at the Secretariat, Alausa.
The Commissioner frowned at the slow pace of work witness at some of the project sites visited and directed the affected contractors to increase the speed of work or be excused from the sites.
Akinderu-Fatai expressed the dissatisfaction of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the inability of most of the contractors to adhere to the agreed time of delivery on various aspects of the projects. ‘’Shifting of completion period by contractors will no longer be tolerated because we will not allow you to slow us down’’ He reiterated the pressure on government to deliver on all its promises especially in the housing sector.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Engineer Abdulhafis Toriola enjoined the contractors to ensure they deliver every facet of the project as scheduled without compromising quality. The project review meeting was attended by heads of technical departments and supervising officials.
The Sangotedo Housing Estates phase 2 after completion will comprise of about 43 blocks and is expected to add over 500 home units to the existing stock. The first phase of the project consisting of 744 home units was delivered and commissioned by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in December 2021.
The Lagos State Ministry of Housing aside the Sangotedo scheme 2 projects is concurrently working on four other housing estates at Ajara, Badagry, Ibeshe scheme 2 Ikorodu, Ita Marun, Epe and Egan Igando cluster 2 and 3. All these projects are expected to be delivered in the life of this administration.