The Lagos State Government has called on residents of its housing estates to take greater responsibility for maintenance of their neighbourhoods to preserve infrastructure.
The
go vernment said that taking such a responsibility would also enhance security
and sustain property value.
The
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mr Abdulhafis Toriola,
made the call during the ministry’s monthly stakeholders’ engagement with
residents of government-owned housing estates.
The
event was hosted by Millennium Housing Estate, Agbado-Ijaiye, Ojokoro, on
Saturday.
Toriola
said the forum was designed to strengthen collaboration between the government
and the residents, while providing a platform to identify challenges and
receive feedback for improved estate management.
“Wherever
you live, you need to be proactive and take ownership so that the estate
retains its value.
“When
you notice something that needs attention, fix what you can.
“Where
government intervention is required, we will come in and assist. You do not
have to wait for government to fix everything,” he said.
The
permanent secretary commended the residents for maintaining their estates, and
urged them to comply with the terms and conditions of their property
allocation.
He
stressed the importance of paying insurance premiums, describing insurance as a
critical safeguard for residents and government assets.
Toriola
also urged the residents to comply with regulations on land use charges and
other statutory obligations, saying that defaulters would be dealt with in
accordance with the law.
According
to him, the ministry has continued to organise stakeholders’ engagements to
obtain residents’ feedbacks.
He
said that such feedbacks had informed improvement works in government housing
estates.
On
ageing estates, Toriola said the government had commenced urban renewal
initiatives, including redevelopment of the old Jakande Estate in Lekki, after
integrity assessment.
Earlier,
the Director of Estate Department in the ministry, Mrs Olukemi Fosude, said the
engagement was aimed at sensitising the residents on government housing
policies.
Fosude
said that the engagement was also aimed at identifying challenges and
strengthening collaboration for effective estate management.
She
said the ministry remained committed to maintaining estate infrastructure,
coordinating facility management, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing
service charges and promoting sustainable communities.
Fosude
announced that the ministry had introduced a standardised demand notice and
unique payment code for every allottee to improve transparency, accountability
and prompt reconciliation of service charge payments.
She
reminded residents of their obligations, including prompt payment of service
charges and insurance premiums.
She
warned against unauthorised structures, illegal commercial activities,
indiscriminate refuse disposal and other violations of estate regulations.
She
urged the residents to participate in the state’s re-introduced monthly
environmental sanitation to promote hygiene, prevent flooding and preserve
property values.
On
behalf of the residents, the Vice-Chairman of the Millennium Housing Estate,
Agbado-Ijaiye, Mr Chris Otabo, commended the ministry for improving security
through the construction of perimeter fencing.
Otabo
also thanked the ministry for beautification of the estate.
He,
however, appealed to the government to provide improved drainage channels,
repair deteriorating roads and install additional streetlights to further
enhance safety.
The
Chairman of Millennium Housing Estate, Okoba, Mr Jamil Onosoya, praised the
ministry for rehabilitating residential blocks and upgrading infrastructure
across government housing estates.
He,
however, appealed for completion of an abandoned water project on the estate
and provision of additional recreational facilities and smart security
infrastructure.
Officials
of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service,
Lagos State Safety Commission, and Lagos State Health Management Agency were at
the event.
Officials
of Lagos State Mortgage Board, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency also attended the event.
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