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The Lagos State government has affirmed that 698 civil servants will be selected by ballot to acquire homes in its different housing estates.
This was revealed by the Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, during the 2024 ministerial press briefing to mark the first year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office on Thursday at Alausa, Ikeja.
He hinted that selected workers would be entitled to a 40 percent partial rebate in their service lifetime.
The Lagos government, through the commissioner for housing, announced a new system for allocating some of its housing units. It was noted that some of the homes will be allocated through a lottery (ballot) to ensure a fair and transparent process.
The process will be monitored by independent observers to enhance transparency and fairness.
The commissioner made it public that the ballot system for allocating homes will begin on June 4th at two locations: Idale (Badagry Division) and LagosHOM Odo-Onosa/Ayandelu (Epe Division).
Akinderu-Fatai opined that the Lagos State Mortgage Board had assembled a list of applicants for home unit allocation.
“Across our housing schemes, we have pre-qualified 950 applicants. Additionally, 400 applicants are eligible for homes in either LagosHOMS, Ajara, Badagry, or LagosHS, Odo-Onosa/Ayandelu.
“We have 100 for the Lagos State public affordable housing scheme, Idale Badagry.”
The commissioner also said the ministry was able to engage over 8,000 skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled residents of Lagos. In August 2023, the ministry trained an additional 200 artisans under its Master Craftsman Training Programme. The six-week programme was organised in partnership with a consultant.
The courses were: plumbing and pipe works, masonry, painting, decoration, carpentry, furniture making, and electrical installations,” he reiterated.
Akinderu-Fatai affirmed that the ministry had to deal with challenges such as encroachment on state-owned land and housing projects, litigation, the slow pace of work by joint venture partners, and the current inflation trend.
“But we have been able to settle most litigation through alternative dispute resolution and strategies to curb delays,” Akinderu-Fatai stated.