News
Housing: Lagos reads riot acts to allottees over infractions
By Francesca Hangeior
Lagos State Government has said it would not hesitate to apply sanctions to residents who do not conform with rules and regulations put in place for the sustainability of the estates across state housing schemes.
State’s Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu–Fatai, stated this during a visit to ascertain the extent of damage done to cables, generators and electrical panels by vandals and robbers at Abiodun Ogunleye Housing Estate, Igbogbo, Ikorodu area of the state.
Akinderu–Fatai, stressed that the move is to ensure promotion of the well-being of residents as well as keep infrastructure of State Government owned housing estates in good condition.
The commissioner who could not hide his dismay at the level of destruction described the criminal acts perpetrated by the vandals as a great setback and major distraction to the state government’s intervention in housing provision in the state.
Akinderu-Fatai, lamented that the state government’s gesture in providing subsidized homes for the low income earners has not been positively reciprocated by the residents.
According to him, “This occurrence at a time like this shows that some citizens do not have a clear understanding of the state’s passion for provision of decent housing for the people.
The fund that will be used to replace these items will definitely reduce the number of homes to be provided for others ” he added.
While interviewing the residents, he noted that” the security breach is as a result of indifference and apathy on the part of residents, saying the vandals must have taken a long time to unearth the cables, cut and cart them away”.
He responded to the revelations that many of the residents have refused to pay monthly facilities management fees, and also brought in tenants that are threats to the security of the Estate by saying that “henceforth anyone that refuse to pay facility maintenance fees or lease his allocation to miscreants will face ejection” .
According to him, “The state government will not hesitate to take back the allocation of allotees who insists on not paying maintenence fees in contravention of Article 6 of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the state government.
“Refusal to pay facility maintenance fee means you are willing to forfeit the right of ownership.”
Akinderu-Fatai, also frowned at those who rent out their apartments, saying, “the intention of Lagos State Government is to provide homes for those in need of accommodation and not property speculators.”
He warned that those who let out their homes to internet fraudsters, cultists and people of questionable characters would lose such allocations if the allegations are sufficiently proved.
Members of the Enugu State Caucus of Peoples Democratic Party, ( PDP) in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji , Rt. Hon. Martins Oke and Hon Anayo Onwuegbu have welcomed Rt. Hon. Dennis Agbo and Hon. Chidi Mark Obeta of Labour Party, (LP) to the PDP fold.
They observed that the visionary leadership of Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mba in Enugu State has ignited massive decamps and unprecedented upsurge of membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the state.
The caucus in a statement issued after the two members of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Dennis Agbo of Igboeze North/ Udenu and Chidi Mark Obeta who represents Nsukka/Igboeze South formally announced their transfer of membership to PDP at the resumption of House plenary on Tuesday said it was gladdening to receive them into the PDP fold.
They stressed that PDP in Enugu State was witnessing a great rebirth as a result of the transformative development agenda being unleashed in various sectors of the economy of the state by Governor Mba which has received global commendations.
The Enugu State caucus Leader, Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji on behalf of the members further noted that Governor Mba’s investments in infrastructure, agro economy, and security among others have made Enugu State a tourist’s haven adding that with the good governance structure he has put in place, his second tenure would be a walkover.
Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, along with twenty-one other former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), elected into the Assembly has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a major realignment of political stakeholders across the state.
The defection of the twenty-two lawmakers has effectively transformed the Delta State House of Assembly into a one-party legislature, as the remaining seven members were originally elected on the ticket of the APC.
Announcing the development on Tuesday during the resumption of plenary after the Easter break, the Speaker stated that the decision was the result of extensive consultations with their constituents and political leaders throughout the state.
He emphasized that the move aligned with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
While expressing appreciation to members for their contributions so far, Guwor urged the House to ensure the completion of all pending bills as the second legislative session nears its end.
He noted that the political shift towards the APC was in response to the realignment of stakeholders and the desire to align with the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
“The mass defection of members of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to the All Progressives Congress was made in the overall interest of Deltans and the state,” the Speaker said.
He explained that the decision followed extensive consultations held on April 23 and which cumulated on the official reception on April 28, 2025, at the Government House and the Cenotaph, respectively.
He said: “We are fully committed to partnering with the Federal Government to deliver greater development to Deltans.
“On behalf of the House, I commend the courage and visionary leadership of our Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in making this strategic and timely decision.
“As a legislative body, we stand with His Excellency in this endeavour. This renewed partnership between the state and Federal Government must be supported and allowed to flourish, so that we can begin to enjoy its benefits in the shortest possible time.”
He informed the House that he had received twenty-two letters (including his own) notifying of the change of party affiliation from the PDP to the APC.
The defection, he said, was driven by instability within the PDP’s national leadership and factional divisions within the South-South Zonal Executive Committee, leading to internal conflicts and disunity within the party.
Citing Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Speaker affirmed the constitutional basis for the defection.
“With this action, the Delta State House of Assembly is now composed entirely of members from the All Progressives Congress. We thank our constituents for endorsing this progressive course of action”.
A motion to adopt the letters of party change was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and seconded by Hon. Ferguson Onwo, who represents Isoko South II.
Speaking to journalists after the plenary, the Majority Leader, Hon Emeka Nwaobi reiterated that the defection was prompted by the crisis within the PDP.
“Our decision was based on the instability at the national level and the factionalization at the South-South level. Consequently, we chose to move to the ruling All Progressives Congress, in accordance with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” he said.
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