In its efforts to provide affordable housing, the Oyo State Government has announced its readiness to sell about 38 semi-detached units of bungalow situated at Carlton Gate Estate, Akobo, Ibadan, to members of the public at affordable rates.
The sale, the government said, would be in fulfillment of its electoral promise towards provision of affordable housing for all classes of people of the state.
The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Abiodun Abdu-Raheem, while on inspection tour to various Housing Estates in Ibadan noted that many people in the state were in need of affordable houses which he said was handy in Carlton Gate Estate, if they applied at the appropriate time.
“In keeping faith with the electoral promises made by our governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, during campaigns on affordable housing, we are putting up 38 semi-detached units of bungalows that are at the Carlton Gate Estate at Akobo in Ibadan for sale at a cheap price to the people.
“The target of this is to make our people house owners without much problems and this is just the beginning. The present administration will provide more affordable housing to the people and make acquisition of houses and landed properties easier and affordable for our people.”
Abiodun expressed displeasure over many undeveloped plots of land in the areas visited as he observed that many choice lands were only fenced round without the owners developing them.
He added that even most houses built did not follow the layout scheme provided by the state government.
“I am not happy with the state of things after accessing everything. Lands that could be bought by people who are ready to build are wasting away without being utilized.
“We will do our best to remove every illegal structures on our lands. It was noticed that around March, at a particular period, a lot of allocations were carried out. I must say that the allocations are sub-listed for revocation and withdrawal.
“Whichever way, we can go about it, for those that have not paid, government will withdraw the allocation paper given to them. I assure everybody that we are here to do the job with fairness and we will be accountable in whatever we do,” he added.
Abdu-Raheem called on people whose building plans had not been approved, those that had letters of land allocated to them but did not have Certificate of Occupancy (CofO), and those that had obtained building plans but their applications were not completed to visit the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to complete their application within a period of seven days from Monday or have their lands revoked.
“An ultimatum of a week is given to people who have not completed the application of their land documents as government will soon begin the revocation of lands that are not properly registered.”
Places visited included Kolapo Ishola Estate; Carlton Gate Estate, Akobo; Quarter 105 Onikoko Avenue Agodi GRA; Ajumose Housing Estate, NIHORT, Jerichol Elenushonsho Estate, Jericho; Queen’s School, Ibadan, Apata; Adeoyo GRA, Ring-Road, all in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.
