Follow Us on Google
By Maduka Nweke
To promote the well-being of residents as well as keep infrastructure of state government-owned housing estates in good condition, the Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, has said sanctions will be applied in cases where residents do not conform with rules and regulations put in place for the sustainability of the estates.
He said this during a visit to ascertain the extent of damage done to cables, generators and electrical panels by vandals and robbers at Abiodun Ogunleye Housing Estate, Igbogbo.
The commissioner who could not hide his dismay at the level of destruction said the criminal acts perpetrated by the vandals is a great setback and major distraction to the state government’s intervention in housing provision in the state. Akinderu-Fatai lamented that the state government’s gesture in providing subsidised homes for low income earners has not been positively reciprocated by the residents.
“This occurrence at a time like this shows that some citizens do not have a clear understanding of the state’s passion for provision of decent housing for the people. The fund that will be used to replace these items will definitely reduce the number of homes to be provided for others,’’ he added.
While speaking with the residents, he noted that, ‘‘the security breach is as a result of indifference and apathy on the part of residents,’’ saying the ‘‘vandals must have taken a long time to unearth the cables, cut and cart them away.’’
Responding to allegations that many of the residents have refused to pay monthly facilities’ management fees, and also brought in tenants that are threats to the security of the estate, he said, “henceforth, anyone who refuses to pay facility maintenance fees or leases his allocation to miscreants will face ejection.’’
According to him, the state government will not hesitate to take back the allocation of allotees who insist on not paying maintenance fees in contravention of Article 6 of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the state government. He said, “refusal to pay facility maintenance fee means you are willingly forfeiting the right of ownership.’’
Akinderu-Fatai also frowned at those who rent out their apartments, saying the intention of Lagos State government is to provide homes for those in need of accommodation and not property speculators.
He warned that those who let out their homes to internet fraudsters, cultists and people of questionable characters will lose such allocations if the allegations are sufficiently proved.
According to the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Housing, Abdulhafis Gbolahan Toriola, the facility management fee is mandatory for all residents to sustain security personnel, refuse disposal, lighting of streetlights, cleaning and sanitation of jointly owned facilities.
He pointed out that to ensure transparency and accountability, the fund is managed by the representatives of Residents Association, Ministry of Housing and the Facility Manager.
Toriola said, “facility management is critical in ensuring that infrastructural facilities provided in the estates work perfectly and constantly. Hence, the state government will not compromise the sustainability of its estate by not sanctioning defaulters.’’
The Permanent Secretary implored the Residents Association to always give the Ministry of Housing information on those harboring criminals on the Estate in the interest of the safety and well-being of all. He then charged the homeowners to fully take up responsibility of the Estate Facility Infrastructures.
