The Urban Regeneration Scheme of the Dapo Abiodun-led administration in Ogun State is progressing with the completion of over 150 houses out of more than 200 planned for the Ibara Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Speaking after inspecting the houses, the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said his administration would ensure that Abeokuta has modern houses that befit its status as the state capital.

Abiodun, who described the former state of the GRA as an eyesore, noted that the dilapidated structures, apart from serving as a haven for criminals, were occupied illegally by people who made use of the buildings as their personal properties.

He said: “Sometime in March, having held different town hall meetings and consultations with those who were living here, most of whom were illegal inhabitants—some, as a matter of fact, turned themselves into landlords, renting out spaces to people illegally.

“But, nonetheless, because it was not our desire to make people homeless, we discussed with them, we agreed on different terms, and we managed to do what previous administrations either did not envision or have the foresight to do, or did not have the political will to achieve.

“We were able to convince people that the future is here and now, and Ogun State capital cannot look like what it was looking like, particularly the high-brow area called the GRA in Abeokuta. In March, we began to clean up this place and implement the regeneration scheme by demolishing and renovating.

“In all, we have what we planned, about 213 to 220 houses that are earmarked to be built here, either directly by the state government, Ministry of Housing, or by allocation to others to build in line with stipulated designs.
“To date, we have about 150 houses already built, others at different stages of completion, and this is just the beginning.”

He assured that a similar regeneration project would be carried out in other GRAs across the state to provide modern houses for the people of the state.

“Let me assure you, this level of development is not situated just in Ogun Central. As we are building and generating in Ogun Central and Abeokuta, we have also done the same in Yewa, where we have affordable housing units in Ilaro.

“Kobape has almost 600 houses and still counting. We have other affordable housing schemes in Sagamu and Iperu, of course, leading to the airport and in Ijebu-Ode,” he added.

He stated that his administration would not be distracted from its set goals by frustrated individuals, noting that while they had the opportunity, they failed to do exactly what his government is doing due to a lack of foresight or a lack of understanding of what was required of them.

“We are doing what we promised the people of Ogun State, who entrusted their mandate to us, and to them we remain accountable. Not to the few faceless Facebook and Twitter-sponsored media; we are not accountable to those few people.

“I am throwing a challenge to my detractors and opponents. I stand to be corrected, but I believe we have constructed more roads in six years than anyone else has constructed in 16 years. I think that is enough to reply to those that are sponsoring faceless videos and negative narratives on social media,” he concluded.