As 92 new homeowners emerge

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

Lagos State government has released N2 billion to mobilise contractors handling various construction sites under the Lagos State Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) in order to deliver more housing units across the state.

Governor Babatunde Fashola disclosed this last week, in Lagos, at the fourth round of draws of the scheme where 92 new home owners emerged, making it the highest number so far in the draws that kicked off four months ago. In the month of March, 31 winners emerged, 36 winners in April and 76 winners emerged in May, bringing the total number of winners of new homes in four months to 235. He restated that the idea behind the home ownership scheme is to enable Lagosians who have worked hard to have homes of their own.

Fashola commended the contractors handling the projects for meeting their targets so far. “The contractors have done well so far. But we appeal to them to do more without compromising quality. We have disbursed N2 billion to contractors to deliver more housing units,” he said.

The governor said that he is happy to make people happy. “From the 31 successful winners in the first month, 36 in the second month, 76 in the third draws and today 92 new home owners have emerged in Lagos. I am a happy man. I am happy because I have made some people happy and I am sure my colleagues who have worked with me are happy too,” he noted.

Fashola reiterated his call for the introduction of shifts at construction sites, stressing that workers can do two shifts of eight hours at each intervals and in that way reduce construction time without compromising quality and not compromising the safety of the workers at the construction sites.

He said the successful holding of another public draw is a confirmation that people who live in the state, who have some means and who work hard can legitimately aspire to have a place to call their own, pointing out that while what transpired at the draws might actually look easy to the public, it is actually not, arguing that it looks easy because the state has been fortunate enough to have dedicated men and women who have committed themselves to a life of service for the people of the state.

He observed that a significant number of the homeowners were very young people which reinforces the size of the part of the Nigerian population that are in need of service, who are in expectation that their country and their government would stand up for them.

Executive Director of the Lagos Mortgage Board, Mr Bayowa Forsythe had earlier disclosed that out of 222 applicants, 176 were successfully pre-qualified while 46 applications were declined because of document issues.