The Oyo State Government on Thursday formally commenced the construction of two housing estates, with a total of 1,004 housing units to be constructed within the next one year.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi
The estates, with a total of 754 units of detached and semi-detached houses, with all necessary facilities and services, on a land area of approximately 20 hectares at Idi-Ishin tagged “Lakeside Residential Estate’’, 250 units are to be constructed at Elenusonso.
The two projects are to be executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement with HCP Architecture and Engineering Nigeria Limited.
Speaking at the turning of the sod for the two housing estates, Governor Abiola Ajimobi said that the projects were another milestone in the life of his administration.
In order to actualize the development of the housing units, he said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed by government with the developer, adding that a Certificate of Statutory Right of Occupancy had also been granted in favour of the developer.
“We had earlier commenced a similar project on a PPP basis with UPDC, a property developing arm of UAC. I am glad to inform you that works have reached a commendable level on the construction of those housing units which will bring smiles on the faces of our people,” he said.
According to him, the conception of the projects is in line with the mission and vision of his administration which is to restore, transform and reposition the landscape that it met about three years ago.
“This attempt to provide affordable housing units for the entire citizenry of Oyo State, both at home and in Diaspora, is in conformity with the agenda of responsible governments all over the world to do good to the greatest number of their people.
“It is indeed a fulfillment of one of our government’s electoral promises, as encapsulated in my electioneering campaign and this administration’s avowed commitment to provide housing units to the entire good people of Oyo State. It is also in realization of the fact that after food and clothing, shelter is ranked next in the hierarchy of human needs” the governor said.
He assured that his administration would not rest on its oars in providing good governance to the people of the state, stressing “we will continue to make available tangible, as well as intangible dividends of good governance to our people.
Speaking at the occasion, the state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Ajiboye Omodewu said that the move by the state government was to ensure that the citizenry had access to decent, safe, health, qualitative and functional housing accommodation at affordable and reasonable cost.
The Managing Director of HCP Architecture and Engineering Nigeria Limited, Mr. Joseph Olawale Demola, said that the projects would be financed from bank loans and funds from sales, adding that his organization would introduce flexible and friendly payment system.
