Ondo Govt Targets 620 Housing Units, As Akeredolu Commission’s First Phase

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Government’s initiative to ensure decent accommodation for residents in the state has started to yield results.

The present administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, at inception had promised people to provide housing units at the state capital that would be affordable to the people.

Apart from the housing estate located at Oba Ile, a suburb of Akure, which was built by first civilian government and sold to the people, other estates such as Alagbaka, Ijapo only provided lands for the people to buy and erect structures.

Governor Akeredolu went a step further as he commissioned another 106 units of houses in Akure.

At the occassion, the Governor reiterated that his administration would continue to synergise with critical stakeholders in the private sector to achieve appreciable progress in the provision of decent housing units for the people of the state.

Mr Akeredolu, at the inauguration of Irese Housing Estate disclosed that his administration’s housing policy reengineering was yielding the desired dividends.

The housing units are made up of 620 out of which 106 in the Phase one we’re ready for commissioning.

It was a joint ventures involving Alpha 3D Limited, a company jointly owned by the State Government and CITEC, with Jaiz bank.

Governor Akeredolu said the project was in fulfillment of his promise during the electioneering campaign to make affordable houses available for the people.

He added that the housing programme would not be limited to the Central Senatorial District as plans are in progress to replicate it in both the Northern and Southern Senatorial Districts of the State.

He assured of his administration’s commitment to  partnering the private sector in addressing the housing deficit in the State.

The Governor also promised to improve access to the estate and ensure provision of roads and connectivity to the National Power Grid.

“No doubt, this project has been in the pipeline for years and it appeared jinxed because of some debilitating challenges.

“However, when we came on board, to the glory of Almighty God, we have been able to resolve those challenges and restructure the Alpha 3D LTD for optimum performance.

“We are glad that our housing policy reengineering is beginning to yield the desired dividends.

“It is also worth mentioning that since we came on board, our government has created the enabling environment for private sectors to thrive.

“This has invariably made our State an investment haven for investors from within and outside the State and even outside the shores of this country.

“Let me assure you all of our determination towards partnering the private sector in addressing the housing deficit in our State.

“It is a known fact that the twin challenge of the housing sector today, is the rising cost of housing delivery and inadequate off-taker capacity.

“The current housing deficit in Nigeria is said to be about 20 million housing units, and it is estimated that several trillions of naira would be required to offset this deficit, which is growing, according to available data, about 900,000 housing units annually.

“It is obvious from this scenario, that our population figure are equally increasing on a daily basis.

“Therefore, concrete measures must be taken to ameliorate this glaring housing problem. It is apparent that government cannot achieve it alone.

“There must be synergy between government and critical stakeholders in the private sector to achieve appreciable progress in the provision of decent housing under the current situation.

“I am glad to inform you that in furtherance of our housing policy, we have chosen to implement a customer-friendly approach of procuring property titles known as Home Ownership Charter Ondo State (HOCOS).

“The scheme is specially instituted to allow all home owners in the State to obtain their titles with ease”, the Governor said.

Earlier, the CEO, Alpha 3D Limited, Oludare Bello, explained that the 620 units houses have facilities such as Shopping Mall, School, Clinic, Recreation facilities, Police Post and Fire Station as well as full complement of infrastructure.

He expressed confidence that 250 units would be delivered by the end of this year.