The Lagos State government has reiterated its commitment to deliver on its promises in the housing sector in spite of the setbacks caused by vandals who carted away fittings from some ongoing housing projects in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola stated this on Wednesday during his inspection tour of ongoing housing schemes in Ibeshe, Igbogbo, Agbowa, Odo Onosa and Ayandelu areas of the state.
He explained that the present administrations' commitment to meeting the housing needs of the people is not negotiable and will continue to forge ahead in ensuring the timely delivery of its housing projects in spite of setbacks, especially the vandalising of some of the projects by miscreants.
Akewusola decried the situation whereby uncompleted houses have been vandalized through the removal of fixtures, transformers cannibalized and electric poles removed in some schemes, saying “it is saddening that some unscrupulous individuals would vandalize or loot projects initiated for the public good”.
He also lamented that some criminals have embarked upon extensive illegal sand digging activities in some ongoing projects around Ikorodu thereby endangering the land structure of the area, stressing that huge economic loss will be incurred as a result of these untoward actions of the miscreants.
According to him, “The replacement of these items and restoration where applicable, will definitely have great financial implications and also result in a delay in delivering the homes to the prospective owners”.
He, therefore, called on community leaders and residents of adjourning properties to assist in securing government’s investment in some of the ongoing housing projects in the State, noting that the security of housing schemes constructed with taxpayers’ money should be a joint venture between the people and the government.
“The policing of these housing schemes that are yet to be delivered is best done by the immediate communities because of proximity and superior knowledge of the terrain of the area. Community leaders and residents must take interest in the vigilance and surveillance of these schemes by offering the necessary information to security agents”, he asserted.
Akewusola, however, assured that the commitment of the state government in meeting the shelter demands of the people is unwavering, hence the state government is working on strategies to protect ongoing schemes from been vandalized by hoodlums.
