Deji Elumoye
15 May 2008
Lagos — Lagos state government is to establish seven new satellite towns in different parts of the state as part of moves to decongest the highly populated density areas within the metropolis.
The state Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Dele Onabokun, who made this known in Ikeja yesterday said the satellite towns are to be located in the sub-urban and rural communities of Agbowa-Ikosi, Ado, Imota, Epe, Igbogbo, Oke-Eletu and Ibeju.
He said the state government was also conscious of the fact that the location of these satellite town estates in various communities would further promote economic growth and productivity, saying that it would provide jobs and encourage manpower development in the host communities.
According to Onabokun, "The state government places a premium on provision of low income houses by putting in place a mortgage structure that would give meaning to the concept of affordability."
He explained that the challenge before the state government was to uplift the standard of living of Lagosians through the development and maintenance of properly planned human settlements, adding that, "To achieve this, the government has gone beyond the rhetoric of planning by setting in motion a framework for delivering 40,000 units before the end of 2011."
The commissioner further noted that, "We discovered that if the needs of the people on the provision of affordable houses are to be met, housing policy must take into cognisance the target group in terms of long-term financing.
"It is due to the absence of a sustainable mortgage finance apparatus that most housing programmes are believed not to be targeted at the low income group."
He added that a critical look at the housing problems in the state revealed that there were high expectations from the citizenry in terms of government intervention in the provision of affordable houses
"Given the worrisome nature of inflation in prices of building materials coupled with the unwholesome activities of land speculators, undoubtedly, government automatically becomes the only hope of the common man if his dreams of ever becoming a house owner is to be realised," he said.
He disclosed that the ministry would also be constructing under direct labour and award of contracts, some 2000 housing units in seven other locations in the state, which would consist of 1 and 2 bedroom flats, 3 bedroom flats, 3 and 4 bedroom luxury flats, 3 and 4 terrace houses, semi detached houses and detached houses.
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