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By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to complete more than 2,000 housing units under construction in Abraham Adesanya and Sangotedo areas of Ibeju-Lekki before the end of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, gave the assurance during an inspection tour of ongoing housing projects across the state, expressing satisfaction with the level of progress recorded while urging contractors to accelerate work to meet delivery timelines.
Akinderu-Fatai, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, directors and members of the ministry’s technical team, said the visit was aimed at assessing the progress of the projects and addressing challenges affecting their completion.
“We are here with the Permanent Secretary, directors and members of the ministry’s technical team to inspect the projects and assess the level of work done.”
The commissioner explained that the housing schemes are being developed through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements designed to expand access to affordable housing for Lagos residents.
According to him, four major housing projects are currently ongoing across the state, with a combined capacity of more than 2,000 housing units.
“It is the intention of this government to ensure that these projects are completed as quickly as possible before the end of this administration,” he stated.
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Despite the progress made, Akinderu-Fatai expressed concern over the pace of work on some of the sites, noting that the ministry had identified several technical issues requiring urgent attention.
“We are not completely satisfied with the current pace of work. We have noticed some technical issues which we will resolve with the contractors. We intend to intensify our inspections and push the contractors to meet the agreed timelines.”
He disclosed that some of the housing projects could be ready for delivery between October and November this year if contractors improve their performance and adhere to project schedules.
The commissioner also warned that the state government would not hesitate to sanction or replace contractors who fail to meet expectations despite receiving the necessary support and funding.
“If the government has provided the necessary funding and a contractor is still not delivering as expected, we will take appropriate action. Contractors must cooperate with the government’s determination to complete these projects.”
Akinderu-Fatai attributed delays experienced on some of the projects to inflation and the sharp rise in the cost of building materials, which he said necessitated cost reviews and extensions of project timelines.
“These projects should have been completed about three years ago, but inflation and the increase in the prices of construction materials affected progress. We have addressed those challenges, and our focus now is on delivery.”
He reiterated the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu administration to expanding housing infrastructure and ensuring that ongoing projects are completed to improve access to decent and affordable housing for residents of the state.
