CITIZENS COMPASS –The Lagos State Government on Monday, July 1, 2024, said it has refunded the full deposit paid by 145 subscribers for various categories of Homes in Egan – Igando Mixed Housing Estate following their indication of lack of further interest in the Housing Scheme.
This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Engr. Abdulhafis Gbolahan Toriola, while fielding questions from the subscribers on the allocation of the newly commissioned 270 Home units (Cluster 1) of the Egan Housing Scheme.
He pointed out that the delivery of the Housing Estate was plagued by various factors ranging from administrative issues to large scale vandalization of the estate by hoodlums.
While lauding the patience and understanding of the early subscribers of the estate who waited for the estate to be completed, Toriola said “the State Government has since refunded 145 former subscribers who applied for repayment with genuine evidence of payment since the administration of Former Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode till date” he added.
The Permanent Secretary also appealed to subscribers who had applied for refund but had not been paid urging them to come down to the Ministry of Housing with all necessary original documents while subscribers with claims of loss of original receipt or document should provide a police report and declaration of Loss of Document or Receipt.
Toriola said that as of today 145 former subscribers with genuine evidence of payment had been refunded saying that “those with no evidence of payments or with questionable documentation are still being investigated.”
The Permanent Secretary recalled that the Governor of the State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu insisted on protecting the interest of the old subscribers who had paid the full sum of the purchase price. To this end, such subscribers were to be immediately handed their home keys while those who paid more than 50% of the initial selling price shall be considered with an option to balance up at the current selling price or apply for refund.
He further said that this was also in acknowledgement of the commitment made by the subscribers and confidence exhibited over the years, while disclosing that over 70% of the early subscribers did not make payments beyond the initial 10% deposits made to Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC).
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged that there was a change of policy from LBIC “Mortgage scheme” to the “Outright purchase” of the Ministry of Housing at the point of handover of the scheme to the Ministry in 2017 by Ex- Governor, His Excellency Akinwunmi Ambode. He said that this policy alteration was communicated to all subscribers through various platforms.
Toriola then assured all genuine subscribers that the delivery of the Egan housing scheme is still an ongoing process noting that there are still 576 homes of various categories to be completed before the end of 1st quarter, 2025.
He also pointed out that the State Government had continuously called several Stakeholders meetings for over five years to work out mutual plans for allocation or refunds for those who were no longer interested in the housing estate while assuring that more stakeholders meeting will be held to ensure that the interest of all genuine subscribers are protected.
Toriola seized the opportunity to reiterate the utmost commitment of the State Government towards continuous provision of homes to the citizens of the State in all the administrative divisions of the State.
