The Kwara state governor, Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, has advocated stiffer legislation on abandoned completed buildings, arguing that they are security threats.
AbdulRazaq, who spoke in Ilorin recently during the inauguration of the Federal Government Housing Projects, under the National Housing Programme (NHP) Phase 1, said such abandoned properties also constitute an economic waste.
Represented by the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Aliyu Mohammed, the governor said: “I want to lend our voice to the menace of abandoned buildings, our country needs stiffer legislation on abandoned buildings which in most cases becomes a threat to security.
”Apart from constituting economic waste and sometimes hiding place for criminals, it undermines the national statistical data for housing in the country. This must be checked by the Federal Government to compel the owners to do the right thing”.
He, however, commended the federal government for finding Kwara worthy to be one of the benefiting states, adding that the project will also impact the citizens economically.
”Kwara did not only benefit in the housing delivery, but in the trickling positive effects of the project. These include job creation among the long value chain and the general economic benefits to the people of our state,” he said.
The governor also noted that the state would begin to roll out different housing programs as efforts are at an advanced stage.
In his address, the Vice Chairman of the community, Mr. Temidayo Atolagbe, said the project has made the community an economic hub.
He promised that they were ready to accommodate prospective residents of the project and cooperate with them to develop the community.
