Lagos State assures low income earners of affordable housing

BY MICHAEL EBOH & ONOZURE DANIA
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to catering for the housing needs of the low income segment of the population.

This is coming on the heels of widespread complaints by residents of the state on the high cost of properties developed by the state government.

Speaking in Lagos at the commissioning of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, LSDPC, Court Apapa, Mr. Biodun Oki, Managing Director, LSDPC, said the government is aware of the accommodation problems confronting the lower and middle income group and is taking steps to address the problems in the not too distant future.

He reassured low income earners in the state of government’s support, saying that while the government will from time to time make incursions into the upper segment of the property market, it is not unaware that the most vulnerable group affected by the housing shortage is the lower income group.

“We are presently at the drawing board and we shall soon be making housing units available to cater for the need of this income group,” he said.

Oki said the state government is been constrained in its efforts at making its presence felt across all the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, by the shortage of land.

He said the government was able to undertake the construction of the LSDPC Court, which was sold at N29.5 million per flat, due to its decision to forfeit its staff quarters that was initially built on the land.

According to him, the government was able to achieve better returns through this development, by replacing the existing six units of duplex with this estate.

The LSDPC boss explained that the estate was constructed on 1.635 hectares of land, adding that there are 10 blocks of six-units three-bedroom flats, making 60 flats altogether.

He said, “We have adopted a layout design that enhances and fosters the sense of community while retaining for each block, adequate space for services and parking.

“In conceiving this estate, we are mindful of the prevailing land use within the district. Hence our target was the executives who have had to wade through Lagos traffic daily to get to their offices.”

He said the LSDPC Court Apapa is an opportunity for the state government to undertake income redistribution between the upper and lower income earners.

“Moreover, for us, it was opportunity at income redistribution. This is the process of building for t he upper class and then utilizing the profit to do more affordable units for the generality of Lagos residents,” he noted.