Immediate-past Administration did Nothing on Housing Unit for 8 Years- Barrister Bayo Lawal
Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde on Wednesday Flagged-off the construction of 360 Housing Scheme at Ajoda New Town Estate, Egbeda, Ibadan which is estimated to cost about N2.5b through Public Private Partnership with the State Government providing 13 hectares of land for the project.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Governor Makinde said this initiative is the fulfilment of one of his campaign promises.
He added that the need for affordable housing scheme in the capital city is evident with statistics showing that the population of the city has been growing at over 2% since 2018. His words:
Address by His Excellency Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, at the Flag-Off of the Construction of Three Hundred and Sixty (360) Housing Units Jointly Sponsored by the Oyo State Government and Remax Realtors Limited on Wednesday, September 23, 2020
We are here today to flag-off a project which is in fulfilment of one of my campaign promises. Those who have taken time to study our Roadmap for Accelerated Development in Oyo State, 2019-2023, would have come across our promise to “facilitate private sector driven housing delivery through variants of public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives.”
And so today, we are flagging off the construction of three hundred and sixty housing units here in Egbeda Local Government Area, Ibadan Zone. Made up of:
2-bedroom semi-detached houses;
3-bedroom semi-detached houses and
3-bedroom detached houses.
As I said earlier, this is a PPP initiative. We are working with Remax Realtors Limited. To make this project a reality, the Oyo State Government through the Oyo State Housing Corporation is providing thirteen (13) hectares of land for the scheme, while the developer will solely finance the entire project.
The project will cost N2.5 Billion, and upon completion, the Developers will recoup their finances when the houses are sold. We have seen the wisdom of getting contractors or developers to commit to projects by using their own monies to carry them out.
Some people may wonder why we are starting off in Ibadan Zone? Well, the need for an affordable housing scheme in Oyo State is clearly evident. Statistics show that the population of the capital city has been growing at over 2% since 2018 with a peak of over 2.5% in 2020. So, half of the population of Oyo State live in Ibadan Zone.”
In his remark, the Chairman Oyo State Housing Corporation, Barrister Bayo Lawal said the experience of the past years especially with the immediate past administration in the state has not been palatable.
Bayo Lawal stressed that throughout the 8 years, the corporation did not undertake any major work be it construction, rehabilitation, renovation and reconstruction. He asserts that the pains of those years are gradually being addressed by Governor Makinde. According to the Baamofin of Kishi, “the mission of the agency which is to provide site and services, undertake provision and development of residential, commercial and industrial estates to members of the public as remained the guiding principle of the corporation.”
“I am indeed convinced that with the motivation and support of your Excellency as being enjoyed presently, the corporation which is the first Housing Corporation in Nigeria will soon reclaim its leadership position in the built industry in the country but also in the African continent.”
“We at the Oyo State Housing shall continue to key into your administration’s developmental programmes.”
Others who spoke at the at the event include, Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barrister Abiodun Abdulraheem, his Justice counterpart Prof Oyelowo Oyewo enjoined investors and residents of the state to key into this landmark initiative.
