Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Residents urge Lagos govt to complete abandoned Egan-lgando housing scheme

By Victor Gbonegun
26 July 2021   |   4:04 am
Disturbed by the insecurity posed by the structures, residents of Agric road in Egan-Igando in Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos have appealed to the government...

The estate located at Agric road in Egan-Igando, Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos state

Disturbed by the insecurity posed by the structures, residents of Agric road in Egan-Igando in Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos have appealed to the government, especially Ministry of Housing to resurrect construction activities on the abandoned housing estate.

They lamented that the estate, which was abandoned for over 22 years, had served as a hideout for criminals, who used the site for their nefarious activities. The homeless also took advantage of the project for shelter.

The main entrance of the estate had inscription Lagos State Ministry of Housing (Lagos Homs) and situated on a large expanse of land spanning over 100-hectares along Agric road, which hosts completed and uncompleted buildings as well as plots of land.

The Guardian learnt that the estate, was owned by the Federal Government and dedicated for Maize production with large modern planting and harvesting equipment. However, it was taken over by the Lagos State Government.

The Vice-Chairman, Agric road Residents Association, Mr. Adeshina Ojewande, who gave the background to the project, stated that it has been on for 22 years from the Alhaji Lateef Jakande era and remained uncompleted.

Ojewande said, “At a point, land grabbers allocated part of the land to some people, who used it for schools, before it was taken over by the Federal Ministry of Housing, that built substandard housing units. The Bola Tinubu administration took over the land and destroyed buildings and ordered that it should be fenced. When the fencing started, the land grabbers had encroached on part of the land.”

He added: “The maize harvesters were removed, the place was well fenced and the state’s housing ministry’s sign post was erected. They started the foundation for buildings and many housing units were built.

“It was during Babatunde Fashola administration that the estate was developed to its present state. They project stopped until Akinwunmi Ambode became governor. When he discovered that the road to the estate was impassible, he awarded the Agric road contract and completed it.”

Ojewande appealed to the government to complete the project because it is a hideout for criminals.

“The estate has been bushy and abandoned. With the extent of work done, the government should commission the project and allow subscribers to live there.”

He said officials from state’s Ministry of Housing have been visiting, inspecting and renovating some of the buildings.

Another resident, Mr. Simeon David, disclosed that, “The estate had been abandoned since 2001. The area was so local and the road was bad. At a time, some security officials guarding the estate allowed people, who are homeless, to live there illegally.’’

“Some people had to leak the information on illegal use of the estate to the government and a taskforce from Alausa came to dislodge the occupants,” he said.

But reacting, spokesperson, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mrs. Adeola Salako, said contrary to the public held notion, work is on going and the estate is being given proper attention.

She said, “Government is working on the project. Some distressed buildings are being demolished and new ones are being built.”

0 Comments