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.