Ogun State Commissioner for Housing, Jagunmolu Akande Omoniyi has stated that the government is committed to its promises of delivering massive housing projects for the benefits of the citizens.
The Commissioner made the remark at the just concluded virtual Abuja International Housing Show which marked the 14th edition of the initiative.
Speaking during a session dedicated to Nigeria’s Housing Commissioners to harp on providing enabling environment for affordable housing, Omoniyi stated that since the inception of the current administration, the ministry has been doing a lot to provide affordable housing for the citizens.
He said the ministry delivered one hundred and thirty housing units to mark their first year in office.
He explained that the ministry has also embarked on seven new housing projects in different locations across the state.
In his words, the commissioner stated that in delivering these houses, the ministry is mindful of the middle and high income earners; hence it is providing housing targeted at both groups. “We are also not forgetting the fact we need to take care of the middle class and high income so another mega development is coming up”.
Omoniyi explained that the ministry in its bid to provide affordable housing is also making conscious efforts to provide employment opportunities for the citizens.
“In delivering these mass cities, we realized that we need to provide employment opportunities for our people and on record for the development of 130 units, we engaged a total of 947 artisans through direct Labour method. The state government decided not to go through the rigour of giving out contracts to political jobbers and so on”
According to him, the new housing projects which are spread across the state will provide thousands of employment for citizens. He said “at the end of the day, about 17 thousands plus artisans would have been engaged and the multiplying effect is that about 100,000 people would have been positively and directly impacted across the state”.
He stated that in terms of land accessibility, “the state government has come up with a policy to grant a minimum of 30% on land premium to any developers that come into Ogun State”.
Omoniyi succinctly noted that the government is exploring various initiatives to provide enabling environment for affordable housing.
